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A randomised controlled trial of physical activity and cognitive training in older adults: the PhABHeaD study
Nicolas Cherbuin, Joseph M. Northey, Erin I. Walsh, Richard A. Burns, Hollie Speer, Nicholas Lawlis, Tergel Namsrai, Amanda Scott et al.. Trials, 2026-05-07
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Findings will inform the design of interventions and population health advice aimed at mitigating cognitive decline. If a substantial synergetic effect is detected, it may lead to the use of more widespread concurrent physical and cognitive training and the potential development of methods to make concurrent training practical. Findings will also provide important clarification as to the relative benefit of the two modes of training. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Prospective registration with Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12624001088538) on 10th September 2024 and World Health Organisation International Clinical Trials Registry (U1111-1280-3851).
Key findings
- Findings will inform the design of interventions and population health advice aimed at mitigating cognitive decline.
- If a substantial synergetic effect is detected, it may lead to the use of more widespread concurrent physical and cognitive training and the potential development of methods to make concurrent training practical.
- Findings will also provide important clarification as to the relative benefit of the two modes of training.
- TRIAL REGISTRATION: Prospective registration with Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12624001088538) on 10th September 2024 and World Health Organisation International Clinical Trials Registry (U1111-1280-3851).
Why it matters
This is a protocol for a randomized controlled trial that will test physical activity and cognitive training in older adults. No results are available yet, so it cannot yet say whether these interventions mitigate cognitive decline.
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Study details
- Study designrandomized controlled trial
- Participants126
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 58/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Trials) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Trials: journal h-index 132 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 126 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Ben Rattray: h-index 29 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | The University of Melbourne: institution h-index 1,342 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 42098784) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 58 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Cherbuin, N., Northey, J. M., Walsh, E. I., Burns, R. A., Speer, H., Lawlis, N., et al. (2026). A randomised controlled trial of physical activity and cognitive training in older adults: the PhABHeaD study. Trials. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-026-09681-9
Vancouver
Cherbuin N, Northey JM, Walsh EI, Burns RA, Speer H, Lawlis N, et al. A randomised controlled trial of physical activity and cognitive training in older adults: the PhABHeaD study. Trials. 2026. doi:10.1186/s13063-026-09681-9. PMID: 42098784.
BibTeX
@article{cherbuin2026-42098784,
author = {Cherbuin, Nicolas and Northey, Joseph M. and Walsh, Erin I. and Burns, Richard A. and Speer, Hollie and Lawlis, Nicholas and Namsrai, Tergel and Scott, Amanda and others},
title = {{A randomised controlled trial of physical activity and cognitive training in older adults: the PhABHeaD study}},
journal = {Trials},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1186/s13063-026-09681-9},
pmid = {42098784},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-026-09681-9}
}
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