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NCT Number: NCT06006962

Aging Well Through Interactions and Scientific Education - Action Plan (AgeWISE-AP)

The purpose of this study is to learn about the effects of AgeWISE-Action Plan (AgeWISE-AP), a 20-week program designed to provide education and individualized planning with a goal of improving brain health.

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Age range

60 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

VA Bedford HealthCare System, Bedford, MA

Bedford, Massachusetts, 01730-1114, United States

About this study

The overall goal of this proposal is to conduct a fully powered randomized controlled trial of a multi-component intervention designed to provide education about brain aging, improve feelings of control over brain aging, and deliver practical assistance with creation of an executable action plan (AgeWISE-Action Plan). The AgeWISE-Action Plan (AgeWISE-AP) is intended to extend our prior AgeWISE program by adding an individualized action plan component to increase older Veteran engagement in brain healthy lifestyle activities.

AIM 1 (primary): To determine whether AgeWISE-AP increases older Veterans' engagement in lifestyle factors that promote brain health. AgeWISE provides information about the differences between normal and diseased brain aging and lifestyle factors that contribute to brain health. The action plan (AP) component will use this foundation to collaboratively create an individualized brain health plan to increase Veteran engagement in brain healthy lifestyle activities. H1. AgeWISE-AP participants will demonstrate increased engagement in brain-healthy lifestyle activities compared to the control group.

AIM 2 (primary): To determine whether AgeWISE-AP improves psychological wellness. AgeWISE provides information about the relationship between cognitive aging and affective states (e.g., depression) and attitudes about aging, and teaches stress reduction techniques. The action plan (AP) will provide additional individualized supports to improve psychological well-being with personalized goals and lifestyle modifications (e.g., diet, exercise, sleep, cognitive stimulation). H2. AgeWISE-AP participants will show increases in perception of control over cognitive aging, meaning and purpose in life, quality of life, and self-efficacy, as well as improved attitudes toward aging and decreased loneliness, depression, and anxiety compared to the control group.

AIM 3 (primary): To determine whether AgeWISE-AP improves cognition. Cognitive strategies to improve cognition and functioning are presented and practiced over three AgeWISE sessions, with homework to improve generalization to day-to-day life. Engagement in brain-healthy lifestyle activities will be accomplished through the action plan (AP). H3. Self-reported memory contentment, ability, and compensatory strategy use will increase and objective cognitive testing will be better for AgeWISE-AP participants compared to the control group.

Aim 4 (exploratory): To determine whether AgeWISE-AP influences biomarkers of brain health using structural neuroimaging methods. H4. At one-year follow-up AgeWISE-AP participants will have less volumetric decline in dementia-related brain regions compared to the control group.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Veterans > 60 years old with concerns about brain aging who want to learn more about cognitive aging
  • English speaking as all intervention materials are written in English

Exclusion criteria

  • Veterans with impairment on a cognitive screening measure, as determined using a MoCA cutoff score for dementia of <24 OR self or other reported diagnosis of a brain disorder affecting cognition such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, other dementia, major stroke, or brain injury or diagnosis of psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia
  • Active alcohol or substance abuse

Treatment and study plan

Aging Well through Interactions and Scientific Education - Action Plan

Other

20-week program designed to provide education and individualized planning with a goal of improving brain health.

Other names: AgeWISE-AP

Primary outcomes

  1. Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors Questionnaire (CHAMPS)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors Questionnaire (CHAMPS) is a 41-item scale that explores the frequency and duration of light, moderate, and vigorous physical activities assessed using weekly frequency and duration.

  2. Cognitive Health Questionnaire (CHQ)

    Time frame: Baseline

    17-item scale that assesses frequency of various lifestyle factors, including nutritional variables and use of cognitive strategies in daily life.

  3. Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II)

    Time frame: Baseline

    A 52-item questionnaire composed of six subscales including health responsibility, nutrition, physical activity, stress management, interpersonal relations, and spiritual growth. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale. Subscale scores are calculated by obtaining a mean score with higher scores indicating, better outcomes.

  4. PROMIS Social Roles and Activities

    Time frame: Baseline

    8 items assessing satisfaction with performing one's usual social roles and activities with response options provided on a 5-point Likert scale. A higher score represents better ability to participate or more satisfaction.

  5. Global Sleep Assessment Questionnaire (GSAQ)

    Time frame: Baseline

    11 items covering mood, life activities, and medical issues as they relate to sleep and symptoms associated with disorders of sleep. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale with lower scores indicating better outcomes.

  6. General and Memory Specific Control Beliefs Scale

    Time frame: Baseline

    Used to measure perceived control over cognitive health. The scale is composed of two sets of items focusing on general and memory-specific control beliefs. We are interested in examining changes in memory-specific control beliefs, which include 4 items with 3 answer choices.

  7. Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS)

    Time frame: Baseline

    17 item scale measuring dimensions of emotional adjustments in persons aged 70 to 90. It provides a multidimensional approach to assessing the state of psychological wellbeing and perceived morale using three factors: agitation, attitude toward own aging and lonely satisfaction. Total score ranges from 0-17 with higher scores indicating higher morality.

  8. The NIH Toolbox Meaning and Purpose Short Form

    Time frame: Baseline

    8-item, form that assesses the degree to which participants feel their lives matter/make sense. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale with responses ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree" and from "not at all" to "very much." Total score ranges from 8-40 with higher scores indicating better outcomes.

  9. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Reliable and valid (in a variety of patient populations) multipurpose instrument for screening, diagnosing, monitoring, and measuring the severity of depression. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale, with total score ranging from 1-27. Lower scores indicate better outcomes.

  10. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D)

    Time frame: Baseline

    20-item measure that rates how often over the past week respondents have experienced depressive symptoms. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale with total scores ranging from 0-60. Lower scores indicate lower depressive symptoms.

  11. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Commonly used measure of anxiety with 40 total items. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale. Total score range from 40-160 with lower scores indicating lower anxiety.

  12. The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE)

    Time frame: Baseline

    10-item psychometric scale that assesses optimistic self-beliefs to cope with a variety of difficult demands in life. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale with total score ranging from 10-40. Higher total score indicates better outcomes.

  13. Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ)

    Time frame: Baseline

    A measure constructed to reflect aspects of memory that are potentially amenable to clinical intervention. The Contentment subscale contains 18 statements that assess emotions and perceptions about current memory ability including anxiety, embarrassment, and irritability. The Ability subscale contains 20 items phrased as memory failures in everyday memory situations (e.g., forgetting an appointment). The Strategy subscale measures self-reported cognitive strategy use. Response options are provided on a 5-point Likert scale. Total score ranges from 0-80 with higher scores indicating better outcomes.

  14. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

    Time frame: Baseline

    Screening instrument that assesses multiple cognitive domains with total score ranging from 0 to 30 points, and a cut score of 24 has demonstrated very good specificity (by correctly identifying 87% of healthy participants) and excellent sensitivity when differentiating MCI (90%) and Alzheimer disease (100%) from healthy comparisons. Total score ranges from 0-30 with higher score indicating better outcomes.

  15. Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors Questionnaire (CHAMPS)

    Time frame: 4-months

    Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors Questionnaire (CHAMPS) is a 41-item scale that explores the frequency and duration of light, moderate, and vigorous physical activities assessed using weekly frequency and duration.

  16. Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors Questionnaire (CHAMPS)

    Time frame: 8-months

    Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors Questionnaire (CHAMPS) is a 41-item scale that explores the frequency and duration of light, moderate, and vigorous physical activities assessed using weekly frequency and duration.

  17. Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors Questionnaire (CHAMPS)

    Time frame: 12-months

    Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors Questionnaire (CHAMPS) is a 41-item scale that explores the frequency and duration of light, moderate, and vigorous physical activities assessed using weekly frequency and duration.

  18. Cognitive Health Questionnaire (CHQ)

    Time frame: 4-months

    17-item scale that assesses frequency of various lifestyle factors, including nutritional variables and use of cognitive strategies in daily life.

  19. Cognitive Health Questionnaire (CHQ)

    Time frame: 8-months

    17-item scale that assesses frequency of various lifestyle factors, including nutritional variables and use of cognitive strategies in daily life.

  20. Cognitive Health Questionnaire (CHQ)

    Time frame: 12-months

    17-item scale that assesses frequency of various lifestyle factors, including nutritional variables and use of cognitive strategies in daily life.

  21. Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II)

    Time frame: 4-months

    A 52-item questionnaire composed of six subscales including health responsibility, nutrition, physical activity, stress management, interpersonal relations, and spiritual growth. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale. Subscale scores are calculated by obtaining a mean score with higher scores indicating, better outcomes.

  22. Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II)

    Time frame: 8-months

    A 52-item questionnaire composed of six subscales including health responsibility, nutrition, physical activity, stress management, interpersonal relations, and spiritual growth. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale. Subscale scores are calculated by obtaining a mean score with higher scores indicating, better outcomes.

  23. Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II)

    Time frame: 12-months

    A 52-item questionnaire composed of six subscales including health responsibility, nutrition, physical activity, stress management, interpersonal relations, and spiritual growth. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale. Subscale scores are calculated by obtaining a mean score with higher scores indicating, better outcomes.

  24. PROMIS Social Roles and Activities

    Time frame: 4-months

    8 items assessing satisfaction with performing one's usual social roles and activities with response options provided on a 5-point Likert scale. A higher score represents better ability to participate or more satisfaction.

  25. PROMIS Social Roles and Activities

    Time frame: 8-months

    8 items assessing satisfaction with performing one's usual social roles and activities with response options provided on a 5-point Likert scale. A higher score represents better ability to participate or more satisfaction.

  26. PROMIS Social Roles and Activities

    Time frame: 12-months

    8 items assessing satisfaction with performing one's usual social roles and activities with response options provided on a 5-point Likert scale. A higher score represents better ability to participate or more satisfaction.

  27. Global Sleep Assessment Questionnaire (GSAQ)

    Time frame: 4-months

    11 items covering mood, life activities, and medical issues as they relate to sleep and symptoms associated with disorders of sleep. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale with lower scores indicating better outcomes.

  28. Global Sleep Assessment Questionnaire (GSAQ)

    Time frame: 8-months

    11 items covering mood, life activities, and medical issues as they relate to sleep and symptoms associated with disorders of sleep. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale with lower scores indicating better outcomes.

  29. Global Sleep Assessment Questionnaire (GSAQ)

    Time frame: 12-months

    11 items covering mood, life activities, and medical issues as they relate to sleep and symptoms associated with disorders of sleep. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale with lower scores indicating better outcomes.

  30. General and Memory Specific Control Beliefs Scale

    Time frame: 4-months

    Used to measure perceived control over cognitive health. The scale is composed of two sets of items focusing on general and memory-specific control beliefs. We are interested in examining changes in memory-specific control beliefs, which include 4 items with 3 answer choices.

  31. General and Memory Specific Control Beliefs Scale

    Time frame: 8-months

    Used to measure perceived control over cognitive health. The scale is composed of two sets of items focusing on general and memory-specific control beliefs. We are interested in examining changes in memory-specific control beliefs, which include 4 items with 3 answer choices.

  32. General and Memory Specific Control Beliefs Scale

    Time frame: 12-months

    Used to measure perceived control over cognitive health. The scale is composed of two sets of items focusing on general and memory-specific control beliefs. We are interested in examining changes in memory-specific control beliefs, which include 4 items with 3 answer choices.

  33. Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS)

    Time frame: 4-months

    17 item scale measuring dimensions of emotional adjustments in persons aged 70 to 90. It provides a multidimensional approach to assessing the state of psychological wellbeing and perceived morale using three factors: agitation, attitude toward own aging and lonely satisfaction. Total score ranges from 0-17 with higher scores indicating higher morality.

  34. Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS)

    Time frame: 8-months

    17 item scale measuring dimensions of emotional adjustments in persons aged 70 to 90. It provides a multidimensional approach to assessing the state of psychological wellbeing and perceived morale using three factors: agitation, attitude toward own aging and lonely satisfaction. Total score ranges from 0-17 with higher scores indicating higher morality.

  35. Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS)

    Time frame: 12-months

    17 item scale measuring dimensions of emotional adjustments in persons aged 70 to 90. It provides a multidimensional approach to assessing the state of psychological wellbeing and perceived morale using three factors: agitation, attitude toward own aging and lonely satisfaction. Total score ranges from 0-17 with higher scores indicating higher morality.

  36. The NIH Toolbox Meaning and Purpose Short Form

    Time frame: 4-months

    8-item, form that assesses the degree to which participants feel their lives matter/make sense. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale with responses ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree" and from "not at all" to "very much." Total score ranges from 8-40 with higher scores indicating better outcomes.

  37. The NIH Toolbox Meaning and Purpose Short Form

    Time frame: 8-months

    8-item, form that assesses the degree to which participants feel their lives matter/make sense. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale with responses ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree" and from "not at all" to "very much." Total score ranges from 8-40 with higher scores indicating better outcomes.

  38. The NIH Toolbox Meaning and Purpose Short Form

    Time frame: 12-months

    8-item, form that assesses the degree to which participants feel their lives matter/make sense. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale with responses ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree" and from "not at all" to "very much." Total score ranges from 8-40 with higher scores indicating better outcomes.

  39. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

    Time frame: 4-months

    Reliable and valid (in a variety of patient populations) multipurpose instrument for screening, diagnosing, monitoring, and measuring the severity of depression. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale, with total score ranging from 1-27. Lower scores indicate better outcomes.

  40. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

    Time frame: 8-months

    Reliable and valid (in a variety of patient populations) multipurpose instrument for screening, diagnosing, monitoring, and measuring the severity of depression. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale, with total score ranging from 1-27. Lower scores indicate better outcomes.

  41. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

    Time frame: 12-months

    Reliable and valid (in a variety of patient populations) multipurpose instrument for screening, diagnosing, monitoring, and measuring the severity of depression. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale, with total score ranging from 1-27. Lower scores indicate better outcomes.

  42. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D)

    Time frame: 4-months

    20-item measure that rates how often over the past week respondents have experienced depressive symptoms. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale with total scores ranging from 0-60. Lower scores indicate lower depressive symptoms.

  43. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D)

    Time frame: 8-months

    20-item measure that rates how often over the past week respondents have experienced depressive symptoms. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale with total scores ranging from 0-60. Lower scores indicate lower depressive symptoms.

  44. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D)

    Time frame: 12-months

    20-item measure that rates how often over the past week respondents have experienced depressive symptoms. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale with total scores ranging from 0-60. Lower scores indicate lower depressive symptoms.

  45. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)

    Time frame: 4-months

    Commonly used measure of anxiety with 40 total items. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale. Total score range from 40-160 with lower scores indicating lower anxiety.

  46. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)

    Time frame: 8-months

    Commonly used measure of anxiety with 40 total items. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale. Total score range from 40-160 with lower scores indicating lower anxiety.

  47. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)

    Time frame: 12-months

    Commonly used measure of anxiety with 40 total items. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale. Total score range from 40-160 with lower scores indicating lower anxiety.

  48. The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE)

    Time frame: 4-months

    10-item psychometric scale that assesses optimistic self-beliefs to cope with a variety of difficult demands in life. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale with total score ranging from 10-40. Higher total score indicates better outcomes.

  49. The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE)

    Time frame: 8-months

    10-item psychometric scale that assesses optimistic self-beliefs to cope with a variety of difficult demands in life. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale with total score ranging from 10-40. Higher total score indicates better outcomes.

  50. The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE)

    Time frame: 12-months

    10-item psychometric scale that assesses optimistic self-beliefs to cope with a variety of difficult demands in life. Response options are provided on a 4-point Likert scale with total score ranging from 10-40. Higher total score indicates better outcomes.

  51. Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ)

    Time frame: 4-months

    A measure constructed to reflect aspects of memory that are potentially amenable to clinical intervention. The Contentment subscale contains 18 statements that assess emotions and perceptions about current memory ability including anxiety, embarrassment, and irritability. The Ability subscale contains 20 items phrased as memory failures in everyday memory situations (e.g., forgetting an appointment). The Strategy subscale measures self-reported cognitive strategy use. Response options are provided on a 5-point Likert scale. Total score ranges from 0-80 with higher scores indicating better outcomes.

  52. Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ)

    Time frame: 8-months

    A measure constructed to reflect aspects of memory that are potentially amenable to clinical intervention. The Contentment subscale contains 18 statements that assess emotions and perceptions about current memory ability including anxiety, embarrassment, and irritability. The Ability subscale contains 20 items phrased as memory failures in everyday memory situations (e.g., forgetting an appointment). The Strategy subscale measures self-reported cognitive strategy use. Response options are provided on a 5-point Likert scale. Total score ranges from 0-80 with higher scores indicating better outcomes.

  53. Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ)

    Time frame: 12-months

    A measure constructed to reflect aspects of memory that are potentially amenable to clinical intervention. The Contentment subscale contains 18 statements that assess emotions and perceptions about current memory ability including anxiety, embarrassment, and irritability. The Ability subscale contains 20 items phrased as memory failures in everyday memory situations (e.g., forgetting an appointment). The Strategy subscale measures self-reported cognitive strategy use. Response options are provided on a 5-point Likert scale. Total score ranges from 0-80 with higher scores indicating better outcomes.

  54. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

    Time frame: 4-months

    Screening instrument that assesses multiple cognitive domains with total score ranging from 0 to 30 points, and a cut score of 24 has demonstrated very good specificity (by correctly identifying 87% of healthy participants) and excellent sensitivity when differentiating MCI (90%) and Alzheimer disease (100%) from healthy comparisons. Total score ranges from 0-30 with higher score indicating better outcomes.

  55. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

    Time frame: 8-months

    Screening instrument that assesses multiple cognitive domains with total score ranging from 0 to 30 points, and a cut score of 24 has demonstrated very good specificity (by correctly identifying 87% of healthy participants) and excellent sensitivity when differentiating MCI (90%) and Alzheimer disease (100%) from healthy comparisons. Total score ranges from 0-30 with higher score indicating better outcomes.

  56. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

    Time frame: 12-months

    Screening instrument that assesses multiple cognitive domains with total score ranging from 0 to 30 points, and a cut score of 24 has demonstrated very good specificity (by correctly identifying 87% of healthy participants) and excellent sensitivity when differentiating MCI (90%) and Alzheimer disease (100%) from healthy comparisons. Total score ranges from 0-30 with higher score indicating better outcomes.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

VA Office of Research and Development

Fed

Collaborators

  • VA Boston Healthcare System

Registry information

Acronym: AgeWISE-AP

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Aug 23, 2023
Registry last updated
Jun 12, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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