Improvements in insulin sensitivity have been associated with cognitive improvement, Dr. Baker said. However, it’s not clear how this effect is mediated by apo E epsilon 4 status. "These adults with the high-risk allele show cognitive improvement that’s probably related to other mechanisms."
The study has prompted a new trial, set to take place next year. The large, multicenter, randomized study will enroll 300 subjects with amnestic MCI to 18 months of moderate- to high-intensity aerobic exercise or the stretching/toning program. Exercises will again occur four times weekly.
The future trial will measure outcomes with the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive domain and the Clinical Dementia Rating-sum of boxes, and performance on computerized tests of memory.
This trial will also include MRI and cerebrospinal fluid biomarker data obtained at baseline and study’s end.
Dr. Baker had no financial disclosures. The studies were funded by the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Diabetes Association, and the National Institute on Aging.
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