NCT05597124 · Phase 2 · RECRUITING
Exercise to Improve Brain Health in Older African Americans
This trial is comparing two exercise programs in older African Americans: a cardio-dance fitness class versus a strength, flexibility, and balance program. Researchers want to see which one better supports brain health and reduces markers associated with Alzheimer's risk, measured through cognitive tests, brain scans, and blood draws. This is a Phase 2 trial, meaning it is testing whether the approach works, not a proven or approved intervention.
You may qualify if
- self-identify as either African American or Black;
- be age 60 or older;
- able to speak, read, and understand English;
- available over the study period; independently ambulatory (i.e., not needing a wheelchair, walker, or cane);
- meet criteria for low levels of physical activity (less than 60 minutes per week) based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-short version);
- scoring 28-35 (inclusive) on the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status Modified (sensitivity [43%], specificity [94%] for lower threshold; sensitivity [93%], specificity [42%] for upper threshold)55.
- scoring 20-26 (inclusive) on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) during the in-person screening
- have clearance to participate from their primary care physician, with oversight of all our patient health under the guidance of our physician-scientist Co-I, William Hu, Chief of Cognitive Neurology at Rutgers.
You're excluded if
- color-blindness (because some of our tasks utilize color as a cue);
- any diagnosed neurological disorder (including headaches and peripheral neuropathy); diagnosed or self-reported non-neurological conditions that likely affect MTL outcomes, such as, major depressive disorder (or a Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form score ≥ 5), schizophrenia, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder or significant psychiatric symptoms that could impair the completion of the study (e.g., psychosis), substance-related and addictive disorders (or treatment in past five years), chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancers, planning to undergo general anesthesia during the study period;
- exercise contraindications, such as, orthopedic complications, myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, angioplasty or other cardiac condition in the past year, current treatment for congestive heart failure, angina, uncontrolled arrhythmia, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or another cardiovascular event, and uncontrolled hypertension with resting systolic or diastolic blood pressures > 180/110 mmHg.
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2026-02-20