UCLA Fitness and Memory Study of Activity In Mild Cognitive Impairment (AIM) (AIM)

Physical Activity Levels and Hippocampal Sub-region Structure in MCI

This project will examine the relationship between physical activity levels, brain structure and memory function in adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) aged 60 to 75. The study will follow 30 adults with age-associated memory impairment or MCI over the course of 18 months. During this time, subjects' physical activity levels will be measured regularly and related to both the thickness their hippocampus and to their memory performance. Subjects will be recruited and screened for major health problems at UCLA. Physical activity will be tracked for two weeks using accelerometers at baseline and every 6 months during the study. At baseline and at the end of the study, subjects will undergo a structural MRI brain scan to measure hippocampal thickness, as well as a neuropsychological evaluation to measure memory function. The study will seek to determine the relationship between physical activity level, hippocampal thickness and memory performance in older adults with age-associated memory impairment.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Mild Cognitive Impairment

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 35

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095
      • UCLA Longevity Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 56 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Southern California Residents with memory complaints aged 60-89.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Agreement to participate in the study
• 60-89 years of age
• Diagnostic criteria for Mild Cognitive Impairment diagnosis: subjective memory complaints, Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of <26, intact instrumental activities of daily living (Smith et al., 1996) OR subjective age-associated memory complaints
• Cohabitation with an adult capable of ensuring correct usage of the physical activity monitors during the study and verifying self-reports of activity levels.
• Adequate visual and auditory acuity to allow neuropsychological testing.
• Screening laboratory tests and EKG without significant abnormalities that might interfere with the study. If screening laboratory tests or EKG show abnormalities, PI may request clearance from primary care physician before subject continues in study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Comorbid conditions impacting mobility
• Current, untreated depression: BDI-II score >13
• Diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) or any other dementia (e.g., vascular, Lewy body, frontotemporal).
• Evidence of other neurological or physical illness that can produce cognitive deterioration. Volunteers with a history of head trauma, stroke, TIA, carotid bruits, or lacunes on MRI scans will be excluded.
• Contraindication to the MRI including claustrophobia, metal in body, surgery within 60 days, certain medical implants or previous abnormal MRI results.
• History of cardiovascular disease
• Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP > 170 or diastolic BP > 100)
• Current diagnosis of any major psychiatric disorder according to the DSM-IV TR criteria (APA, 2000), including current alcoholism or substance addiction.
• Current use of marijuana
• Previous use of marijuana for at least 15 days in a month, initiating use during adolescence and continuing for at least one year

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
No treatment

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Activity level correlation with hippocampal thickness	Correlation of activity levels, as measured using ankle accelerometers, with hippocampal thickness, as measured using brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).	18 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Activity level correlation with memory performance	Correlation of activity levels, as measured using ankle accelerometers, with memory performance, as measured by neuropsychological evaluations	18 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Baseline measures prediction of follow-up measures	Change in ankle accelerometer, brain MRI and neuropsychological data from baseline to 18 months	18 months
Activity level correlation with other measures controlling for other factors	Changes in ankle accelerometer data compared to changes in brain MRI and neuropsychological data from baseline to 18 months	18 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: David Merrill, MD, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Longevity Center Research Laboratory

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2013
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): August 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 27, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 27, 2013
• First Posted (Estimate): December 4, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 2, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 30, 2018
• Last Verified: April 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Physical Activity, Aging, Memory, Cognitive Impairment, MRI, Neuroscience
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Cognitive Dysfunction
• Other Study ID Numbers: 13-000781; UL1TR000124 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)