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Subjective Cognitive DeclineNCT06078748

The Lifestyle Exercise and Diet Trial (LEAD) 2.0

A study testing EX, DIET and STRETCH in people with Subjective Cognitive Decline, run by University of Waterloo at 1 site in Canada.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of a virtually-delivered 6-month exercise and nutrition intervention in older adults with executive subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Feasibility will be determined by recruitment, retention, and adherence rates. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 65 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for
Subjective Cognitive Decline
What is being tested?
EX, DIET and STRETCH
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
140 participants
Where
1 siteCanada
Study dates
3 Oct 2023to Dec 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 65 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • 65-80 years old
  • Meet criteria for executive SCD
  • Answer Yes to both following questions:
  • Do you feel like your memory or thinking is becoming worse?
  • Does this worry you?
  • ≥1SD above age and sex-based means on any of the sub scales of the Comprehensive Executive Function Inventory (CEFI) - Adult Version, indicative of concerns about executive function.
Show all 15Show fewer
  • No objective cognitive impairment as indicated by:
  • A global Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) of ≤ 0.5
  • A Blind Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) total score of >17
  • Able to communicate in English
  • Residents of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan to facilitate concurrent intervention delivery
  • Low physical activity levels (<75min/week of moderate/vigorous physical activity on the Get Active Questionnaire)
  • Screened safe to participate in moderate exercise using the Get Active Questionnaire or physician approval to engage in moderate intensity exercise without in-person supervision
  • Poor diet quality (below Canadian older adults' median intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish, reported using our Diet Screening Questionnaire)
  • Able to participate remotely (i.e., availability of, or ability/willingness to adopt, a computer or tablet alongside high speed internet/data networks)

Who cannot join

  • Dementia, stroke, or other chronic brain disease
  • Chemotherapy or radiation to the head/neck in the past year
  • Sensory impairments that would impede participation in the intervention or assessments
  • Major psychiatric disorder
  • Ongoing alcohol or drug abuse that in the opinion of the investigator may interfere with the subject's ability to comply with the study procedures.
  • Contraindications for exercise as determined by the American College of Sports Medicine criteria

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Canada1 site
  • University of Waterloo

    Waterloo, Ontario, 41080

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Diet Trial: A Virtual, Lifestyle Approach to Improve Cognition

The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of a virtually-delivered 6-month exercise and nutrition intervention in older adults with executive subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Feasibility will be determined by recruitment, retention, and adherence rates. Preliminary changes in cognition, physical function, and quality of life will be assessed as secondary outcomes. The study will recruit 140 participants aged 65 to 80 who report they feel that their memory or other thinking abilities are declining. Participants will be randomized into one of four study arms receiving different combinations of healthy lifestyle interventions. Assessments will be conducted virtually at baseline, post-intervention (6 months), and follow-up (12 months). All intervention sessions and assessment visits will be conducted online using the Zoom Healthcare platform and participants will log on using their own devices from home.

Read the detailed description

The study will be a randomized control trial examining the feasibility of a 6-month virtually delivered exercise and nutrition intervention in older adults with executive SCD. The study aims to recruit 140 participants. After initial contact with potential participants, 2 screening visits (up to 45 minutes each) will be conducted to assess eligibility and obtain consent to participate in the study. At the start of the program, after completing the program (6 months), and at follow-up (12 months), assessors will conduct 2 assessments (30-65 min each) using Zoom video conferencing to measure thinking abilities, physical function, and quality of life. Participants will be randomized into one of four 6-month intervention arms (35 individuals per group x 4 groups): 1) EX + DIET: aerobic and resistance exercise (EX) with healthy diet counseling (DIET), 2) EX + ED: aerobic and resistance exercise (EX) with education on healthy lifestyle related to brain health (ED), 3) STRETCH + DIET: stretching and toning exercises (STRETCH) with healthy diet counseling (DIET), 4) STRETCH + ED: stretching and toning exercises (STRETCH) with education on healthy lifestyle related to brain health (ED). All groups that receive EX and/or DIET will also receive the "Adult Strategies Put Into Real World Environments" (ASPIRE) goal strategy training, with goals focused on exercise and/or diet in order to overcome barriers and increase maintenance of lifestyle changes. All intervention sessions and assessment visits will be conducted online using the Zoom Healthcare platform, and participants will log on using their own devices from home.

Being tested
EX, DIET, STRETCH, ED

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • EXBehavioural

    Also called Combined aerobic and resistance exercise

    EX involves 2.5hrs of moderate intensity aerobic and resistance exercise per week. EX will be instructed by a clinical exercise physiologist (CEP) or registered kinesiologist (RKIN). The EX session will include a 5min warm-up, 20-30min of moderate intensity aerobic exercise, 20-30min of moderate intensity resistance training, and a 5min cool down. The virtual video session will be pre-recorded, have similar composition, and will be led by the same instructor as the group sessions. This group will also receive the "Adult Strategies Put Into Real World Environments" (ASPIRE) goal strategy training, with goals focused on exercise in order to overcome barriers and increase maintenance of lifestyle changes.

  • DIETBehavioural

    Also called Brain-healthy diet education and counseling

    DIET involves one session per week of diet education delivered by a Registered Dietitian. The DIET session will be 90 minutes during months 1-4, and 30 minutes in months 5 and 6. DIET was developed by our team, emphasizing foods identified as supporting executive function, memory, and other cognitive abilities. This group will also receive the "Adult Strategies Put Into Real World Environments" (ASPIRE) goal strategy training, with goals focused on diet in order to overcome barriers and increase maintenance of lifestyle changes.

  • STRETCHBehavioural

    Also called Stretching and toning exercise

    STRETCH sessions will be time/frequency-matched to EX sessions (2.5hrs/week: 1.5hr in virtual group sessions; 1hr virtual video session) to control for social aspects and placebo effects of EX.Each STRETCH session will include a 5min warm-up, 5min of balance exercises, and 50min of stretching. Difficulty will not be progressed. STRETCH sessions will also be led by a CEP/RKIN instructor and video sessions will be pre-recorded by the same instructor.

  • EDBehavioural

    Also called Brain Health Education and Discussion

    ED sessions designed to be of equal intensity and social engagement to the DIET intervention. Participants will engage in group discussion and receive information on the brain and cognitive processes, the effect of age on cognition, and tips to promote healthy aging. This will include lectures, watching documentaries and participating in various games.

Study groups in NCT06078748
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
EX + DIETExperimentalParticipants will engage in 3 sessions per week (2 EX, 1 DIET, totaling 4 hours per week), consisting of two virtual group sessions (totaling 3 hours) and one independent session (1 hour) (Table 1). Virtual group sessions will occur in groups of 6-8 participants using the Zoom Healthcare platform (on a computer or tablet).
Receives: Behavioral: EX; Behavioral: DIET
EX + EDActive comparatorParticipants will engage in 3 sessions per week (2 EX, 1 ED, totaling 4 hours per week), consisting of two virtual group sessions (totaling 3 hours) and one independent session (1 hour) (Table 1). Virtual group sessions will occur in groups of 6-8 participants using the Zoom Healthcare platform (on a computer or tablet).
Receives: Behavioral: EX; Behavioral: ED
STRETCH + DIETActive comparatorParticipants will engage in 3 sessions per week (2 STRETCH, 1 DIET, totaling 4 hours per week), consisting of two virtual group sessions (totaling 3 hours) and one independent session (1 hour) (Table 1). Virtual group sessions will occur in groups of 6-8 participants using the Zoom Healthcare platform (on a computer or tablet).
Receives: Behavioral: DIET; Behavioral: STRETCH
STRETCH + EDPlacebo comparatorParticipants will engage in 3 sessions per week (2 STRETCH, 1 ED) totaling 4 hours per week), consisting of two virtual group sessions (totaling 3 hours) and one independent session (1 hour) (Table 1). Virtual group sessions will occur in groups of 6-8 participants using the Zoom Healthcare platform (on a computer or tablet)
Receives: Behavioral: STRETCH; Behavioral: ED

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Feasibility: Recruitment

    Recruitment rate per month

    Measured: 6 months

  2. Feasibility: Retention

    Percent of consented participants who complete the post-intervention assessment of executive function

    Measured: 6 months

  3. Feasibility: Adherence

    Percent of study intervention sessions attended by type

    Measured: 6 months

  4. Feasiliby: Adherence (diet)

    Change in diet quality as assessed with the Eating Pattern Self-Assessment (minimum score 0, maximum score 15; higher scores indicate better diet quality)

    Measured: 6 months

Secondary outcomes (18)
  1. Retention by gender

    Does retention vary by gender (men, women, other)

    Measured: 6 months

  2. Adherence by gender

    Does adherence vary by gender (men, women, other)

    Measured: 6 months

  3. Executive Function

    the primary outcome of a future, large scale trial: an executive function composite derived from Cambridge Brain Sciences on-line assessments, where calculated effect size, variance, and co-variance will inform the sample size for the future, definitive RCT.

    Measured: 6 months

  4. Memory

    a secondary outcome of a future, large scale trial: memory (Rey Auditory verbal Learning Test [RAVLT] immediate and delayed recall)

    Measured: 6 months

  5. Diet

    a secondary outcome of a future, large scale trial: diet quality (adherence to the study diet assessed by a study-specific questionnaire [Eating Patterns Self Assessment questionnaire: minimum score 0, maximum score 15; higher scores indicate better diet quality])

    Measured: 6 months

  6. Physical Activity

    a secondary outcome of a future, large scale trial: physical activity (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly [PASE], higher scores indicated more physical activity)

    Measured: 6 months

  7. Physical Function

    a secondary outcome of a future, large scale trial: physical function (assessed using a 5 times sit-to-stand test)

    Measured: 6 months

  8. Health-related quality of life

    a secondary outcome of a future, large scale trial: Health-related Quality of Life assessed using the SF-36; minimum score 0, maximum score 100, higher scores indicate better quality of life)

    Measured: 6 months

  9. Waist Circumference

    a secondary outcome of a future, large scale trial: waist circumference

    Measured: 6 months

  10. Maintenance of change in executive function

    Differences in executive function betwen 6 and 12 months (6 months post-intervention) in an executive function composite derived from Cambridge Brain Sciences on-line assessments

    Measured: 12 months

  11. Maintenance of diet quality

    Differences in diet quality (as measured by the Eating Patterns Self-Assessment questionnaire: minimum score 0, maximum score 15; higher scores indicate better diet quality) between 6 and 12 months (6 months post-intervention)

    Measured: 12 months

  12. Maintenance of physical activity

    Differences in physical activity (as measured by the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, higher scores indicate greater physical activity) between 6 and 12 months (6 months post-intervention)

    Measured: 12 months

  13. Effect modification of executive function by sex

    To examine differences in observed effect sizes of executive function (as measured by an executive function composite derived from Cambridge Brain Sciences on-line assessments) vary by sex (male/female)

    Measured: 6 months

  14. Effect modification of executive function by gender

    To examine differences in observed effect sizes of executive function (as measured by an executive function composite derived from Cambridge Brain Sciences on-line assessments) vary by gender (men, women, other)

    Measured: 6 months

  15. Effect modification of physical activity by sex

    To examine differences in observed effect for physical activity (as measured by the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, higher scores indicate more physical activity) vary by sex (male/female)

    Measured: 12 months

  16. Effect modification of physical activity by gender

    To examine differences in observed effect for physical activity (as measured by the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, higher scores indicate more physical activity) vary by gender (men, women, other)

    Measured: 12 months

  17. Effective modification of diet quality by sex

    To examine differences in observed effect sizes for diet quality (measured by Eating Patterns Self-Assessment questionnaire; minimum score 0, maximum score 15, higher scores indicate better diet quality) by sex (male/female)

    Measured: 12 months

  18. Effective modification of diet quality by gender

    To examine differences in observed effect sizes for diet quality (measured by Eating Patterns Self-Assessment questionnaire; minimum score 0, maximum score 15, higher scores indicate better diet quality) by gender (men, women, other)

    Measured: 12 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted12 Oct 2023
  2. Study start3 Oct 2023
  3. Primary completionDec 2025 (estimated)
  4. Study completionDec 2025 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Factorial
Model description
Factorial randomized controlled trial
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
140 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06078748
Sponsor's protocol ID
44616
Status last verified
Apr 2025
First submitted
1 Jun 2023
Last updated
4 Apr 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: IDP will be uploaded to an open access data repository. The exact repository has yet to be decided. All data will be de-identified.

Publications

  • Neudorf B, Koblinsky N, Power K, Binns M, Fiocco AJ, Rotenberg S, Marzolini S, Oh P, Thornton J, Ajwani F, Sullivan K, Chevalier S, Russell C, Ferland G, Anderson ND, Middleton LE. Rationale and protocol of the LEAD 2.0 study: a randomized controlled trial assessing the feasibility of a virtually delivered 6-month exercise and nutrition intervention in older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2025 May 10;11(1):64. doi: 10.1186/s40814-025-01626-4.

    PubMed 40349092

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing EX, DIET and STRETCH in people with Subjective Cognitive Decline, run by University of Waterloo at 1 site in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 15 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Feasibility: Recruitment (time frame: 6 months). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06078748, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Apr 2025.

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