Vascular Health clinical trials

Double-task Exercise in Older Adults at Risk of Cognitive Decline (MeMo-Health-Cog-3 Program)

Cerebral small vessel disease is a frequent cause of cognitive disability among older adults (OAs) in Mexico that imposes a significant burden on the health system and OAs' families. We have called the program Mind and Movement for Cognitive Health (MeMo-Salud-Cog-3). Programs to prevent or delay OAs' cognitive decline are scarce. Methods and analysis: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial will be conducted. The study will aim to evaluate two 24-week double-task (aerobic and cognitive) square-stepping exercise programs for OAs at risk of cognitive decline-one program with and another without caregiver participation-and to compare these with an aerobic-balance-stretching exercise program (control group). 255 OAs (85 per group) affiliated with the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) between 60 and 65 years of age with self-reported cognitive concerns will participate. They will be stratified by education level and randomly allocated to the groups. The intervention will last 24 weeks, and the effect of each program will be evaluated 12, 24, and 52 weeks after the intervention. Participants' demographic and clinical characteristics will be collected at baseline. The outcomes will include: (i) general cognitive function; (ii) specific cognitive functions; (iii) dual-task gait; (iv) blood pressure; (v) carotid intima-media thickness; (vi) carotid arterial compliance; (vii) OAs' health-related quality of life; and (viii) caregiver burden. We will estimate differences in outcomes between each intervention group and the control group at baseline and follow-up evaluations. We will assess differences-in-differences (D-in-D) treatment effects using a D-in-D estimator. If we identify statistically significant differences in participants' baseline characteristics between the groups, we will adjust the D-in-D estimators by these covariates using generalized linear regression models. Ethics and dissemination: The study was approved by the IMSS Ethics and Research Committee (registration number 2018-785-095). All participants will sign a consent form prior to their participation. The study results will be disseminated to IMSS authorities, healthcare providers and the research community.