U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Alzheimer Disease

In brief

The purpose of this research study is to see if lifestyle changes can protect memory and thinking (cognition) as we age. A recent study in Finland found that a combination of physical and cognitive exercise, diet, and social activity protected cognitive function in healthy older adults who were at increased risk of significant memory loss. So far no medications can rival this positive outcome. The point of POINTER is to test if lifestyle change can also protect against memory loss in Americans.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03688126

Run by

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

People needed

2000

Starts

2019-01-08

Expected to finish

2025-05-16

Last updated by the study team

2025-11-03

Who can join

Age: 60 and older, up to 79. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Sedentary (not a regular exerciser, determined using the POINTER--modified Telephone Assessment of Physical Activity [TAPA]
• Low MIND Diet score (determined using the MIND Diet Screener)
• No cognitive impairment as per Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (mTICS) score >32 (includes adjustments for demographics such as age, education and race), the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR <0.5), and the CDR-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB <1)
• Risk Score for cognitive decline >2, using the following scoring algorithm:1 point: Suboptimum cardiovascular health (treated or untreated): systolic Blood Pressure >125 mmHg \~OR\~ low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol >115 mg/dL\~OR\~ glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) >6.0%1 point: First degree family history (mother, father, sister, brother) of memory impairment- 1 point: Race and ethnicity: African American/Black, Native American, Middle Eastern/North African, or Hispanic/Latinx
• 1 point: Older age: 70-79 years 1 point: Sex: male
• Lives in a region where the POINTER interventions will be delivered
• Does not plan to travel outside of the home geographic area for an extended period of time during study participation
• Capacity to complete physical exercise
• Willing to complete all study-related activities for at least 24 months
• Willing to be randomized to either lifestyle intervention group

You may not qualify if…

• Age <60 or ≥80 years
• Any significant neurologic disease, including any form of dementia, mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, progressive supranuclear palsy, seizure disorder, subdural hematoma, multiple sclerosis, or history of significant head trauma with persistent neurologic sequelae or known structural brain abnormalities
• History of major depression within the last 6 months
• History of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia as per Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) V criteria
• History of alcohol or substance abuse or dependence within the past 2 years, as per DSM V criteria
• Current or past use of medications for memory impairment or AD (e.g., cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine)
• Current daily use of systemic corticosteroids
• Current use of 3 or more doses of narcotics/week. Use of intermittent narcotics should be stopped 48 hours prior to clinic visits/cognitive testing. Tramadol is allowed as long as the dose remains stable for 3 months.
• Use of psychoactive medications, including benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood-stabilizers, psychostimulants, anti- parkinsonian medications, anticonvulsant medications or medications with significant central anticholinergic activity are allowed as long as the medication is NOT used to treat an exclusionary medical condition.
• Significant cardiovascular disease (including New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV congestive heart failure, clinically significant aortic stenosis, history of cardiac arrest, or uncontrolled angina)
• Serious conduction disorder (e.g., 3rd degree heart block), uncontrolled arrhythmia, or new Q waves or ST-segment depressions (>3 mm) on ECG (treated atrial fibrillation for more than 1 year or occasional premature ventricular contractions on ECG are not exclusions)
• Myocardial infarction, major heart surgery (i.e., valve replacement, bypass surgery, stent placement, angioplasty), deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolus in the past 6 months
• Large vessel stroke in the past 2 years
• History of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or small vessel stroke in the last 6 months; TIA occurring more than 6 months ago with residual effects
• Current use of insulin to treat type 2 diabetes
• Lung disease requiring either regular use of corticosteroids or the use of supplemental oxygen; intermittent use of corticosteroids or supplemental oxygen to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation is allowed; use of inhaled steroids for asthma is allowed
• End stage renal disease (e.g., requiring dialysis or as per clinician discretion)
• Clinically significant abnormalities in laboratory blood tests as per judgment of the site Study Clinician
• History within the last 2 years of treatment for primary or recurrent malignant disease, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers, resected cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in situ, basal cell carcinoma, cervical carcinoma in situ, or in situ prostate cancer with normal prostate-specific antigen post treatment; long-term endocrine therapy for breast cancer is allowed (e.g., tamoxifen, anastrozole)
• History of hip fracture, joint replacement, or spinal surgery in the last 6 months
• Currently receiving physical therapy or cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
• History of a malabsorptive bariatric procedure (gastric bypass, biliopancreatic diversion); other bariatric procedures involving restriction (i.e., sleeve, band) are not exclusionary
• Resides in an assisted living facility or nursing home
• Receives hospice care
• Site PI/Study Clinician discretion regarding medical status, appropriateness of participation or concern about intervention adherence

Where it is running

• Northern California — Sacramento, California, United States
• Chicagoland--Rush — Chicago, Illinois, United States
• Chicagoland--Advocate Aurora Health — Downers Grove, Illinois, United States
• North Carolina — Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
• New England--Rhode Island — Providence, Rhode Island, United States
• Houston — Houston, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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