Physical Activity, Alzheimer's Disease and Cognition Relative to APOE Genotype

The Effect of Physical Activity on Cognition Relative to APOE Genotype (PAAD-2)

Physical activity and Alzheimer's disease (PAAD-2) is a randomized control trial that will assess the effects of exercise on middle-aged (40-65 years) cognitively normal adults who have a heightened risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to family history (FH+). The investigators will also assess the extent to which this effect is moderated by apolipoprotein epsilon-4 (APOE4) carrier status, and will gather critical new experimental evidence on the use of physical activity to improve cognitive performance by persons at the greatest risk of Alzheimer's disease.

In this study, the investigators follow up on their past research exploring the effects of physical activity on cognitive performance and underlying mechanisms. In particular, the investigators are interested in the potentially different effects that might be realized as a function of a person's genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease. In this study, the investigators extend past work by proposing a randomized clinical trial to: (a) test the causal link between physical activity and cognitive performance in middle-aged adults (40-65 years) with a family history, and (b) determine if the effect is moderated by apolipoprotein epsilon-4 (APOE4) carrier status. The investigators will collect neuroimaging measures of cerebral structure, white matter integrity, and resting state connectivity; assess putative biological markers; and (using moderated mediation analyses) increase understanding of underlying mechanisms and of the extent to which effects are moderated by APOE4 carrier status. To test hypotheses, the investigators will randomly assign 240 cognitively normal, middle-aged adults to a 1-year virtual physical activity program or a usual care control. Those in the intervention will participate in a year-long physical activity program including aerobic exercise performed on your own and resistance exercises led in virtual exercise sessions with an instructor 1 hour/day for 3 days/week for 1 year. Those in the usual care control condition will be asked to maintain their normal lifestyle for one year and then will be given a short-term fitness center membership (contingent upon completion of testing sessions). The investigators will assess cognitive performance at pre-, mid-, and post-test, and obtain MRI scans and blood samples at pre-, mid- and post-test. The investigators will examine the effects of physical activity on cognitive performance and on neurological and biological mechanisms and will explore the moderating role of APOE4.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Family History of Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment
• Able to communicate in English
• Not currently meeting recommendations for physical activity (the recommendations are to exercise 3 days/week for 30+ minutes per day for longer than 3 months)
• Willing to be randomized to either study condition
• Willing to complete all study activities for 1 year

Exclusion Criteria:

• Meet the criteria for clinical cognitive impairment
• Unable to perform physical activity due to known cardiovascular, metabolic, or renal disease and are symptomatic or due to orthopedic limitations
• Self-report history of confounding neurologic, psychiatric, or active severe or functionally disabling neurologic or medical diseases, or any other conditions that might limit exercise or pose a danger to the patient
• Current use of medications to treat symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, that adversely affect cognition, or that impact heart rate
• Meet the criteria for depression using the short form of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale
• Traveling for an extended period (>1 month) during the course of the study