Physical and Cognitive Aging Study in Older Adults (PASOS)

PASOS: Physical and Cognitive Aging Study in Older Adults

Hispanic Americans are the fastest growing older adult group in the United States, disproportionally increasing the risk of an Alzheimer's disease and related dementias diagnosis. Efforts to reduce this risk and mitigate the related cognitive/physical declines are critical. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of enrolling older adults into an aging trajectory cohort, while generating preliminary data on associations of physical and cognitive aging trajectories. Our secondary objective is to generate preliminary data on the association of standard measures of physical activity and physical function with cognitive status. This study fits within our longitudinal research goal to reduce dementia incidence by understanding the mechanisms that drive the cognitive-physical aging trajectory.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Exercise; Cognitive Aging; Hispanic Americans; Older Adults (65 Years and Older); Aging, Healthy

Detailed Description

Overview: This study aims to assess the feasibility of recruiting and retaining 50 Hispanic American (HA) and 50 non-Hispanic American (non-HA) adults, aged 55-85, into a longitudinal aging cohort. We will evaluate differences in physical activity, physical function, and cognitive performance over time.

Design and Outcomes: Adults will be consented at the beginning of visit 1. Those potentially eligible will complete MoCA, questions about previous and current medical history, and general cognitive function (visit 1). Eligibility will be confirmed at the end of visit 1. Physical fitness, and physical activity behaviors will be assessed during visit 2. Once both visits are completed, the study team will ask about attendance availability in the future. The study team will reach out following one year (or up to 3 months after the one-year mark). The participants will be asked to repeat the same procedures as visits 1 and 2 (1 year follow-up = visits 3 and 4).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 100

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Stacey Alvarez-Alvarado, PhD, MS; Phone Number: 904-244-9937; Email: salvarezalvarado@ufl.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Jacksonville, Florida, United States, 32206
      • Recruiting
      • University of Florida, College of Medicine-Jacksonville
      • Contact: Stacey Alvarez-Alvarado; Phone Number: 904-244-9937; Email: salvarezalvarado@ufl.edu
      • Contact: Sol Colindres Solorzano Research Coordinator; Phone Number: 9042449711; Email: Geminis.ColindresSolorzano@jax.ufl.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Hispanic Americans and Non-Hispanic American adults between the ages of 55 and 85 years old, with at least 8th grade education, and community dwelling.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Hispanic and non-Hispanic adults age 55-85 years, at least 8th grade education, community dwelling.

Additional Inclusion for Hispanic Americans

• Self-identify as Hispanic American
• Report Spanish as primary language • No evidence of dementia or mild cognitive impairment based on cognitive screening [i.e., Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) administered during Visit 1; ≥26 among non-Hispanic White, ≥25 among Hispanics, ≥24 among non-Hispanic Blacks (Milani et al., 2018)]

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to provide informed consent
• Artificial joint or severe disability that would make it impossible or contraindicated performing the isokinetic test
• Sensory loss (vision, hearing) or motor deficits that would preclude participation in the experimental tasks or neuropsychological assessment
• Previous major strokes or other known significant brain abnormalities or diseases affecting the brain and/or cognition (e.g., Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, seizure disorder, brain surgery, moderate TBI, REM Behavior Sleep Disorder, untreated sleep apnea, etc.)
• Unstable and uncontrolled medical conditions (metastatic cancer, HIV, moderate-severe kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, severe cardiac disease, etc.). No current cancer diagnosis.
• Current or past history of major psychiatric disturbance including schizophrenia, or active psychosis, bipolar disorder, current major depressive episode, current alcohol or substance abuse or history thereof within the past six months
• Use of antipsychotics, sedatives, or other medications with significant anticholinergic properties (due to potential influence on memory)
• Use of prescribed 'memory enhancing' medications, such as Aricept or Namenda
• Previous participation in a cognitive or physical activity training study within the last 6 months or current involvement in another study involving cognitive, physical or other intervention at the time of enrollment

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Adult Cohort; n=100 (50 Hispanic American adults and 50 non-Hispanic American adults); The participants in this PASOS pilot will include 50 self-identified HA individuals and 50 self-identified non-HA individuals between the ages of 55-85 years, with no psychometric evidence of neuropsychological decline. We plan to enroll an equal number of women and men. Race and ethnicity in this study will be determined via self-report or self-identification by participants.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Rate of recruitment	Recruiting > 80% participants (50 Hispanic American and 50 non-Hispanic American adults) for a longitudinal aging study.	From recruitment to follow-up (1-year)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Florida

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 19, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 20, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 20, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 2, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 9, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): December 10, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 4, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 3, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Motor Activity
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB202400815

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No