Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Clinicians lack the tools to incorporate physical activity into clinical care for Alzheimer’s disease prevention. We tested a 52-week exercise and health education program (Lifestyle Empowerment for Alzheimer’s Prevention [LEAP! Rx]) that integrates clinician referrals and community-based fitness resources.
METHODS
We randomized 219 participants to the LEAP! Rx (ie, exercise and monthly brain health education) or a standard-of-care control group and tested the effects on cardiorespiratory fitness, insulin resistance, body composition, lipids, and cognitive performance.
RESULTS
Physicians were able to connect their patients to a community lifestyle intervention. The intervention group increased in cardiorespiratory fitness at 12 and 52 weeks (p = 0.005). We observed no effects on secondary measures. Participants meeting 80% of weekly goals (150 min, moderate to vigorous activity) saw greater fitness improvements than those with less than 80% (p < 0.001).
DISCUSSION
These results hold promise for broad implementation of exercise interventions into larger healthcare systems and have implications for improved research recruitment strategies.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
NCT No. NCT03253341.
Highlights
Our community-based exercise program increased cardiorespiratory fitness.
Our digital physician referral method increased the diversity of the participant sample.
Our findings have implications for personalized dementia risk reduction strategies.
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This post is Copyright: Amber Watts,
Amanda Szabo‐Reed,
Jordan Baker,
Jill K. Morris,
James Vacek,
Jonathan Clutton,
Jonathan Mahnken,
Mickeal N. Key,
Eric D. Vidoni,
Jeffrey M. Burns | October 8, 2024