Long-term impact of physical activity on the prevention of cognitive function decline: study protocol for an extended randomized controlled trial (PA Protect study)

Ada Maria Adamczak; Małgorzata Jamka; Klaudia Kotecka; Aleksandra Makarewicz-Bukowska; Jan Brylak; Anna Dzudzewicz; Edyta Mądry; Jan Krzysztof Nowak; Karl-Heinz Herzig; Jarosław Walkowiak

doi:10.20883/medical.e1240

Authors

Ada Maria Adamczak Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
Małgorzata Jamka Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0257-6180
Klaudia Kotecka Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5109-6776
Aleksandra Makarewicz-Bukowska Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9310-9643
Jan Brylak Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1398-3387
Anna Dzudzewicz Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6803-6486
Edyta Mądry Department of Physiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0081-6558
Jan Krzysztof Nowak Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0953-2188
Karl-Heinz Herzig Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland & Research Unit of Biomedicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4460-2604
Jarosław Walkowiak Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5813-5707

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20883/medical.e1240

Keywords:

mild cognitive impairment, cognitive functions, cognition, physical activity, physical exercise

Abstract

The PA Protect study investigated the impact of increased daily physical activity on preventing cognitive decline, and maintaining healthy biomarker levels in individuals with mild cognitive impairment. Participants aged 50-70 years, selected based on their performance in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test were enrolled in a double-blind randomized controlled trial and randomly assigned to either an active or passive group. The active group was instructed to achieve over 10,000 daily steps, while the passive group maintained usual activity levels. Preliminary findings revealed a positive influence of increased physical activity on cognitive function, with significant differences observed between the two groups in selected cognitive tests. Building on these results, this study extends the PA Protect trial for an additional three years. All participants will undergo cognitive assessments and biomarker analyses at the beginning and after the extended intervention period, providing further insights into long-term intervention effects.

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