Cognitive and Aerobic Resilience for the Brain

Exercise and cognitive training hold promise for delaying progression of MCI. Exercise
improves cognitive ability, brain function, and brain structure in older adults. Cognitive
training has been shown to durably improve mental abilities and functional status in older
adults. In addition, persons with MCI respond to some forms of cognitive training just as
robustly as healthy older adults.

This pilot study is a 4 group design with a home-based multi-modal physical exercise
intervention, cognitive training, combined cognitive and physical training, and a social
contact control enrolling older adults with MCI.

This pilot study is designed to be consistent with current recommended approaches to
establishing trial feasibility. If the aims are achieved, it will provide a conceptual and
practical rationale to support a large, multi-site, randomized clinical trial to test the
efficacy of combined physical and cognitive training in delaying time to a clinical diagnosis
of dementia.

Inclusion Criteria:

- subjective memory complaint

- minimal impairment in daily function per Functional Activity Questionnaire (FAQ)

- sedentary

- English speaking

- access to telephone

Exclusion Criteria:

- dementia or Alzheimer disease

- stroke, past 12 months

- myocardial infarction, past 12 months

- angina

- Parkinson disease

- multiple sclerosis

- epilepsy

- AIDS

- brain tumor, infection, or surgery

- brain injury with > 30 minute LOC

- schizophrenia

- bipolar disorder

- cancer with short life expectancy

- current chemotherapy or radiation therapy

- depression

- alcohol consumption ≥ 8 drinks per week for women, or ≥15 drinks per week for men

- prescription of Aricept or Namenda, past or present

- self-reported difficulty reading a newspaper (low visual acuity)

- low hearing or communicative ability (examiner-rated) that would interfere with
interventions and outcome assessments

- prior involvement in similar cognitive training studies, programs, or online training

- prior use of online brain training or brain fitness programs

- unable to pass the Exercise Assessment and Screening for You (EASY)

- living in nursing home

- scheduling conflicts with intervention schedule

- unwilling to use a computer or be on video conferencing

- Baseline blood pressure of Systolic > 180

- Baseline blood pressure of Diastolic > 100

- Baseline pulse of < 40 or > 100

- unable to provide informed consent