Lifestyle Physical Activity and Cognitive Training Interventions: Preventing Memory Loss in Older Women With Cardiovascular Disease (MindMoves)
Cognitive Decline, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cognitive Dysfunction
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Cognitive Decline
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- self-identified as women
- ≥ 65 years old
- read/speak English
- patient in the Rush Heart Center for Women
- history of CVD (e.g., coronary artery disease, hypertension) and receiving guideline-directed medical therapy when appropriate
- no regular moderate-vigorous physical activity (≥ 30 minutes ≥ 3 days per week in the past month)
- no cognitive training program in the past month
- no disabilities preventing regular physical activity (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire, which includes cardiac and lung disease symptoms)
- written approval from cardiology provider (Physical Activity Readiness Medical Examination); no self-reported significant hearing loss that interferes with normal conversation
- access to a Bluetooth-capable phone or tablet
Exclusion Criteria:
- symptoms of unstable cardiac or pulmonary disease in the past month (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire)
- blood pressure (systolic ≥ 160 or diastolic ≥ 100 mm Hg)
- cognitive status score < 19 on the blind version (for phone administration) of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) consistent with significant cognitive impairment
- diagnosis of a neurological disease found in the electronic health record (e.g., Alzheimer's disease dementia, Parkinson's disease, vascular dementia)
- transient ischemic attack or small-vessel stroke in the past three months
- taking anti-psychotic medication
- diabetes with an A1C ≥ 9.0 within the past six months
- end-stage renal disease on dialysis (Stage 5)
Sites / Locations
- Rush University Medical Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Arm 4
Experimental
Experimental
Experimental
No Intervention
Mind - BrainHQ cognitive training intervention
Move - lifestyle physical activity intervention
MindMoves - cognitive training and lifestyle physical activity
Usual Care
The Mind intervention uses the evidence-based BrainHQ computerized cognitive training program. BrainHQ focuses on improving memory, attention, sensory function, and working memory, and has demonstrated efficacy in improving memory among healthy older adults and adults with heart failure. BrainHQ is tailored to the individual, and program difficulty automatically progresses based on performance. Training occurs during three 30-minute sessions per week, for a total of 36 hours. Participants will complete the BrainHQ program on an iPad tablet, which will be provided to them.
The Move intervention is a 24-week evidence-based program based on social cognitive theory. It was originally developed for midlife women and successfully maintained increased physical activity. It has since been tailored for older women with CVD to prevent or delay cognitive decline, and includes: (1) education on the importance of lifestyle physical activity for brain health, (2) increasing lifestyle physical activity while considering CVD, and (3) including a goal for increasing Fitbit "active" minutes (≥ 3 METs or moderate-intensity physical activity) to ensure participants are obtaining the beneficial aerobic fitness effects during periods of lifestyle physical activity. Core elements include a personal lifestyle physical activity goal and five group meetings.
Participants who are assigned to this condition will complete both the Move lifestyle physical activity program and the Mind BrainHQ cognitive training intervention simultaneously for 24 weeks (see Move and Mind descriptions). Participants will receive both a Fitbit and iPad tablet to complete the combined MindMoves intervention.
Participants in the usual care group do not receive any Mind- or Move-related intervention, and will receive their usual care from their cardiology provider.