title: Rhythm experience and Africana culture trial (REACT!): A culturally salient intervention to promote neurocognitive health, mood, and well-being in older African Americans.
abstract: The Rhythm Experience and Africana Culture Trial (REACT!) is a multi-site randomized controlled intervention study designed to examine the efficacy of using African Dance as a form of moderate-intensity physical activity to improve cognitive function in older African Americans. African Americans are almost two times more likely than Caucasians to experience cognitive impairment in late adulthood. This increased risk may be attributed to lower level and quality of education, lower socioeconomic status, and higher prevalence of vascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, all of which are recognized as risk factors for dementia. Fortunately, interventions targeting cardiovascular health (i.e., physical activity) are associated with improved neurocognitive function and a reduced risk for dementia, so African Americans may be particularly suited for interventions targeting cardiovascular health and cognitive function. Here, we describe a randomized intervention protocol for increasing physical activity in older (65-75years) African Americans. Participants (n=80) at two study locations will be randomized into one of two groups. The treatment group will participate in African Dance three times per week for six months and the control group will receive educational training on Africana history and culture, as well as information about health behaviors, three times per week for six months. If successful, the REACT! study may transform community interventions and serve as a platform and model for testing other populations, age groups, and health outcomes, potentially identifying novel and creative methods for reducing or eliminating health disparities.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Alexis J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lukach
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Institute on Aging, USA; University of Pennsylvania, Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, USA; University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: M Kathryn
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jedrziewski
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychology, USA.
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Grove
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, USA; University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, USA.
authors.forename: Dawn J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mechanic-Hamilton
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Institute on Aging, USA.
authors.forename: Shardae S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychology, USA.
authors.forename: Mariegold E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wollam
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychology, USA; University of Pittsburgh, Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, USA. Electronic address: kiericks@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Kirk I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Erickson
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000339:Affect; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D065246:Culturally Competent Care; D003615:Dancing; D003863:Depression; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
keywords: Alzheimer's disease and related disorders; Dancing and physical activity; Health disparities; Methods and feasibility analysis; Neurocognitive health; Randomized controlled pilot study