Mindful Walking Neural Correlates of Executive Function in SC Older Adults at Risk of Dementias

Conditions

• Older Adults With Elevated Dementia Risk

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

60 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Accepted

Interventions

• Mindfulness-based walking — BEHAVIORAL
  Implementing mindfulness skills during the walking movement

Study Details

Mindful walking is a promising and practical strategy because it combines two activities known to support healthy aging: walking and mindfulness. Unlike many structured exercise programs, mindful walking is low intensity, accessible, and easier to sustain in daily life. It may be especially useful for older adults at elevated risk for ADRD. However, most existing mindful walking studies have focused on mental health outcomes, such as stress reduction, rather than cognitive health. Little is known about whether mindful walking can support cognition or how it may influence brain function. To address this gap and strengthen a future R01 resubmission, the investigators propose a two-arm randomized controlled pilot trial using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a safe, non-invasive brain imaging method. fNIRS measures brain activity through sensors placed on the scalp and is well-suited for repeated assessments in older adults because it is quiet, portable, painless, and cost-effective. The investigators will recruit racially and ethnically diverse middle-aged and older adults from the Midlands of South Carolina who are at elevated risk for ADRD. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: mindful walking or walking-only control. Both groups will complete 8 staff-supervised individual sessions over 4 weeks. The mindful walking group will learn and practice simple mindfulness skills while walking in multiple settings, including lab-based, indoor, and outdoor environments, to support real-world use. Findings from this pilot study will provide important evidence on whether mindful walking can support brain and cognitive health in adults at elevated risk for ADRD. The results will also help establish a practical, scalable, and sustainable prevention strategy for underserved aging populations in South Carolina.

Key Dates

Start date

May 22, 2026

Status verified

Jun 2026

Primary completion

Jul 31, 2027

Completion

Sep 30, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment

54 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

PREVENTION

Arms

• Experimental: Mindful walking arm
  Older adults will participate in 8 sessions of mindful walking over one month
• Active Comparator: Walking-only arm
  Older adults will participate in 8 sessions of walking over one month

Primary Outcome Measure

Hemodynamic activation signal [ Time Frame: Assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks ]

Central Contacts

• Halle Prine, MS
  8039997392
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

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