Fit & Active Seniors Trial

Our previous trial (known as HALT, Healthy Active Lifestyle Trial) suggests that
improvements in aerobic fitness have beneficial effects on cognitive function that are
rather specific. That is, improvements in aerobic fitness appear to result in improvements
in executive control processes such as scheduling, planning, coordination, inhibition, and
working memory - some of the very cognitive abilities most affected during aging. Indeed,
executive control processes and the prefrontal and frontal regions which support them have
shown substantial and disproportionate age-related declines. The main hypothesis that the
investigators test in the present project is that such deficits may be particularly
benefited by improvements in aerobic fitness combined with cognitive training in the form of
dance. Additionally, we will compare the outcomes of these interventions with an aerobic
condition (walking) group and an aerobic condition (walking) group that also is provided
with a daily nutritional supplement (walking + nutrition). The investigators will examine
the relationship between aerobic fitness, physical activity, cognitive status, and brain
function with this six-month aerobic training intervention study. The investigators will
collect psychosocial data and functional fitness data to assess other relevant changes in
psychological and physical function brought about by exercise training. Healthy, non-active
older adults (60 to 79 years of age) will be recruited from the local community. Half One
quarter of the older adults will be randomly assigned to an aerobic/cognitive combination
group (dance), one quarter will be while the remaining half of the older adults will be
randomly assigned to a non-aerobic control group (stretching, strengthening, and stability),
one quarter will be assigned to the walking group, and one quarter will be assigned to the
walking + nutrition group. The exercise interventions will be conducted by trained exercise
staff. The participants will be assessed before and after the intervention (6 months).
Assessments will include (a) cardiorespiratory testing, (b) physical activity monitoring (c)
performance on neurocognitive tests of executive and non-executive function (d) measures of
brain activation (fMRI) during cognitive tasks in a 3.0 tesla MRI system (e) a battery of
psychosocial questionnaires (f) functional performance measures and (g) a mock street
walking task.

Inclusion Criteria:

- 60-79 years of age

- Low-active: zero to two days of physical activity (> 30 minutes per day) per week in
previous six months.

- Personal physician's examination and/or consent to participate in testing and
exercise intervention

- Successful completion of graded exercise test without evidence of cardiac
abnormalities or responses which are likely to be exacerbated by exercise. This
decision will be made by the attending cardiologist.

- Adequate responses to the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS-M)
questionnaire

- Corrected (near and far) acuity of 20/40 or better in both eyes and no diagnosis of
color-blindedness

- Initial depression score on GDS-15 (Geriatric Depression Scale) below clinical level
(> 10)

- No presence of implanted devices or metallic bodies above the waist

- No history of brain surgery that involved removal of brain tissue

- Right-handed

- No history of stroke or Transient ischemic attack(TIA)

- Intention to remain in the local area for the duration of the intervention or testing
period

- English fluency

Exclusion Criteria:

- Below 60 years of age or above 80 years of age at beginning of intervention

- Self-reported regular physical activity of more than 2 times per week in last six
months

- Non-consent of physician

- Evidence of abnormal cardiac responses or conditions during graded exercise testing

- Inadequate responses to the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS-M)
questionnaire (<20)

- Uncorrectable (near and far) acuity of greater than 20/40 in either eye and/or
color-blindness

- Depression score on GDS-15 indicative of clinical depression (≤ 10)

- Presence of any implanted devices above the waist i.e. cardiac pacemaker or
auto-defibrillators; neural pacemaker; aneurysm clips in the Central Nervous
System(CNS); cochlear implant; metallic bodies in the eye or CNS; any form of wires
or metal devices that may concentrate radiofrequency fields

- History of brain surgery that involved removal of brain tissue

- Left-handed

- History of Stroke or TIA

- Intent to move or be away from the area for an extended period of time (i.e. > 3
weeks) during the intervention or testing period

- Inability to communicate effectively in English