Feasibility of a Memory Clinic-Based Physical Activity Prescription Program.
Effective programs for promoting physical activity are needed for those with cognitive impairment.



To test the feasibility of mobile Health (mHealth) technology-supported physical activity prescription from a tertiary care memory clinic.



This feasibility study was designed as a 16-week randomized, crossover trial of a physical activity prescription: 8 weeks of intervention, 8 weeks of baseline or maintenance phase data collection. We recruited 2 cohorts: 21 individuals with Alzheimer-related cognitive impairment (mean age 72.3 (5.2), 9 females), and 9 individuals with normal cognition (mean age 69.6 (5.8), 8 females). We gave each cohort an mHealth accelerometer-based physical activity prescription to double number of steps taken. Our primary outcomes were feasibility and safety. Our secondary outcomes were change in weekly steps taken, Dementia Quality of Life Scale, Self-efficacy Scale, 6-minute Walk, and mini-Physical Performance Test.



Set-up and use of the device was not a barrier to participation. However, only 62% of participants with cognitive impairment completed the intervention. The cohort with cognitive impairment did not change their weekly step count above Week 1. All participants in the cohort with normal cognition were able to set up and use their device and increased their weekly step count above Week 1. There were no differences between Week 1 and Week 8 for any secondary measures in either cohort.



Setup and daily use of mHealth technology appears to be feasible for a person with cognitive impairment with the help of a partner, but increasing daily step counts over 8 weeks was not achieved. Future work needs to assess alternative activity prescription goals or additional support for patients and their partners.
University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center, Fairway, KS, USA.
Eric D
ED
Vidoni
University of Kansas, Department of Psychology, Lawrence, KS, USA.
Amber S
AS
Watts
University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center, Fairway, KS, USA.
Jeffrey M
JM
Burns
University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center, Fairway, KS, USA.
Colby S
CS
Greer
University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center, Fairway, KS, USA.
Rasinio S
RS
Graves
University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center, Fairway, KS, USA.
Angela
A
Van Sciver
University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Kansas City, KS, USA.
Jessica R
JR
Black
University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Kansas City, KS, USA.
Sarah K
SK
Cooper
University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Kansas City, KS, USA.
Allison C
AC
Nagely
University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Kansas City, KS, USA.
Elaine
E
Uphoff
University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Kansas City, KS, USA.
Jennifer M
JM
Volmer
University of Kansas Medical Center, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, Kansas City, KS, USA.
Natalie A
NA
Bieberle
D061725:Accelerometry; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000379:methods; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013997:Time Factors
Alzheimer’s disease; clinic activities; exercise; mobile health