Ecological Momentary Cognitive Assessment (DEACS)

July 13, 2026 updated by: Jason Fanning, Wake Forest University

Characterizing Daily Activity and Cognition in Older Adults

The purpose of this study is to characterize the relationships between changes in cognitive functioning across the day and patterns of physical activity in older adults. Those who participate in the program will complete tests of cognition and several surveys at the start. They will then wear an activity monitor and complete four cognitive tests plus surveys per day for one week. After this week concludes, they will continue completing the surveys and cognitive tests, and will engage in one week of structured exercise at a research center and one week where they work to move throughout the day.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • North Carolina
      • Winstom Salem, North Carolina, United States, 27109
        • Health and Exercise Sciences
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • age ≥65
  • fluent in English
  • own a smartphone
  • able to provide digital informed consent
  • able to walk without assistance from others (a cane or walker is allowed)
  • low-active as defined by participating in purposeful aerobic exercise two days or less per week

Exclusion Criteria:

  • potential neurological cofounders (stroke, seizure disorder, recent head injury or loss of consciousness)
  • diagnosis of clinical mental abnormalities (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias)
  • any other conditions that may impact their ability to complete the ecological momentary cognitive tasks or physical activity (e.g., visual or auditory impairments, uncontrolled arthritis)
  • A score lower than 32 on the TICS-M.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Control-Exercise First
This condition completes the control week followed by structured exercise and then moving throughout the day.
Behavioral: Exercise
During this week, participants will be encouraged to complete 5 supervised center-based aerobic exercise sessions at a moderate to vigorous intensity.
Behavioral: Daylong Movement
Participants will work to increase daily steps by approximately 25% while avoiding sustained periods of sitting.
Experimental: Control-Daylong Movement First
This condition completes the control week followed by moving throughout the day and then exercise.
Behavioral: Exercise
During this week, participants will be encouraged to complete 5 supervised center-based aerobic exercise sessions at a moderate to vigorous intensity.
Behavioral: Daylong Movement
Participants will work to increase daily steps by approximately 25% while avoiding sustained periods of sitting.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Daily cognitive performance
Time Frame: From start of control week to the end of participation at 3 weeks.
Average performance on ecological momentary cognitive tasks, completed up to 4 times daily: color trick (inhibition), 2-back (working memory), hand swype (task switching)
From start of control week to the end of participation at 3 weeks.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Wake Forest University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

August 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 13, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 13, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IRB00026492

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

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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