2022 Alzheimer's Association Research Grant (AARG)

Behavioral Interventions for the Treatment of Early Onset AD

Can a combination of cognitive and physical training help slow the progression of early-onset Alzheimer’s?

Dustin Hammers, Ph.D.
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN - United States

Background

When Alzheimer’s disease affects a person under the age of 65, it is considered to be early-onset (also called younger-onset) Alzheimer’s. Research suggests that combined cognitive-physical interventions may positively impact cognitive function, mood, and activities of daily living in older adults living with dementia. However, the potential benefits of combined cognitive and exercise training in adults with early-onset Alzheimer’s have not been characterized.

Research Plan

Dr. Dustin Hammers and colleagues will study the efficacy of both cognitive training and physical exercise as a behavioral intervention in individuals with early-onset Alzheimer’s. The researchers will recruit 60 individuals with early-onset Alzheimer’s through the ongoing Longitudinal Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Study (LEADS). Funded by the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health, LEADS is a 2-year multi-site observational project in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association that aims to study disease progression in adults aged 40-64 years with early-onset Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Hammers and team will evaluate participants with a series of assessments that will measure memory, function and overall mood of the individual at their initial study visit. Then each participant will be randomly assigned into one of three treatment groups: 1) Auditory-focused (hearing) cognitive training and physical activity, 2) Visual-focused (sight) cognitive training and physical activity, or 3) No cognitive training or physical activity group. Following the completion of training, participants will complete the same assessments they underwent at their initial visit; they will do this both immediately after their final training session and again at a six-month follow-up visit. The researchers will assess feasibility and compliance with the interventions as well as compare the performance between groups.

Impact

This study may help identify behavioral interventions to use in individuals with early-onset Alzheimer’s. If successful, the findings may suggest simple, yet practical, interventions that may help slow the progression of the disease.