Walking Intervention, Cognitive Remediation, and Mild Cognitive Impairment

• Short Physical Performance Battery score of 10 or greater
• Average of fewer than 5,000 steps per day but able to walk a city block without a walking aid
• Mini-Mental State Exam score of 25-28, inclusive
• Normal results of physical and neurological examinations

• Difficulty walking due to pain or posture
• Difficulty using computer due to significant visual and/or fine motor impairment
• Significant weight loss (more than 33 pounds) in the last 12 months
• Geriatric depression scale score of more than 9
• Malignancies within the past 5 years, with the exception of skin cancer therapeutically controlled
• Abnormal electrocardiogram results, including resting heart rate below 40 bpm or above 100 bpm, previously unknown and/or untreated atrial fibrillation or flutter, evidence of a third degree A-V block, previously undocumented left bundle branch block, S-T segment depression of greater than 2 mm, evidence of a previous myocardial infarction, or any other findings that preclude participation in an exercise intervention
• Shortness of breath, exertional angina, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or any other chronic medical condition deemed to preclude participation in an exercise intervention; any other medical condition or disease that is life-threatening or that can interfere with or be aggravated by, exercise
• Current smoker

This study seeks to understand the effects of cognitive remediation and walking, separately and together, on cognition and gait in the elderly. Participants will be divided into four groups, each receiving an intervention three times per week for 12 weeks. The Cognitive Remediation Therapy Group will receive 30 minutes of Cognitive Remediation Therapy and 60 minutes of a Healthy Living Class. The Walking Intervention Group will receive 60 minutes of walking and 30 minutes of reading stimulation. The Combination Group will receive 30 minutes of Cognitive Remediation therapy and 60 minutes of walking. The Healthy Living Group will receive 60 minutes of a Healthy Living Class and 30 minutes of reading stimulation. Outcomes to be measured include clinical measures related to dementia and a gait analysis with measures related to falls.

Pennington Biomedical Research Center