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Effects of Exercise and Intensive Vascular Risk Reduction on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Zhang R, Vidoni E, Vongpatanasin W, Kerwin DR, Cullum CM, Rossetti H, Stowe AM, Billinger SA et al.. JAMA neurology, 2026-05-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Results A total of 3290 individuals were screened, and 513 older adults (aged 60-85 years) without dementia and with hypertension, family history of dementia, and/or self-reported subjective cognitive decline were randomized. For the primary outcome, there were no statistically significant interactions between intervention groups and time of visits (P = .13). At 24 months, PACC scores increased by 0.2 units in the no-exercise group (95% CI, 0.1-0.3) and by 0.3 units in the exercise group (95% CI, 0.2-0.4), with no significant group differences (0.1 units; 95% CI, -0.1 to 0.2; P = .37). PACC scores also increased by 0.3 units in the no-IRVR group (95% CI, 0.2-0.4) and by 0.2 units in the IRVR group (95% CI, 0.1-0.3), with no significant group differences (0.1 units; 95% CI, -0.3 to 0.03; P = .12). Increases in the NIHTB-CB composite score and individual test scores with exercise or IRVR showed similar results. Conclusions and relevance In this multicenter randomized clinical trial among older adults with family history of dementia and/or self-reported subjective cognitive decline, exercise, IRVR, or both did not result in statistically significant differences in improvements in cognitive function over 24 months.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Zhang, R., Vidoni, E., Vongpatanasin, W., Kerwin, D. R., Cullum, C. M., Rossetti, H., et al. (2026). Effects of Exercise and Intensive Vascular Risk Reduction on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA neurology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2026.0359
Vancouver
Zhang R, Vidoni E, Vongpatanasin W, Kerwin DR, Cullum CM, Rossetti H, et al. Effects of Exercise and Intensive Vascular Risk Reduction on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA neurology. 2026. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2026.0359. PMID: 41870419.
BibTeX
@article{zhang2026-41870419,
author = {Zhang, R. and Vidoni, E. and Vongpatanasin, W. and Kerwin, D. R. and Cullum, C. M. and Rossetti, H. and Stowe, A. M. and Billinger, S. A. and others},
title = {{Effects of Exercise and Intensive Vascular Risk Reduction on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial}},
journal = {JAMA neurology},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1001/jamaneurol.2026.0359},
pmid = {41870419},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2026.0359}
}
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.
Key findings
- Results A total of 3290 individuals were screened, and 513 older adults (aged 60-85 years) without dementia and with hypertension, family history of dementia, and/or self-reported subjective cognitive decline were randomized.
- For the primary outcome, there were no statistically significant interactions between intervention groups and time of visits (P = .13).
- At 24 months, PACC scores increased by 0.2 units in the no-exercise group (95% CI, 0.1-0.3) and by 0.3 units in the exercise group (95% CI, 0.2-0.4), with no significant group differences (0.1 units; 95% CI, -0.1 to 0.2; P = .37).
- PACC scores also increased by 0.3 units in the no-IRVR group (95% CI, 0.2-0.4) and by 0.2 units in the IRVR group (95% CI, 0.1-0.3), with no significant group differences (0.1 units; 95% CI, -0.3 to 0.03; P = .12).
- Increases in the NIHTB-CB composite score and individual test scores with exercise or IRVR showed similar results.
Why it matters
In this large randomized trial, exercise, intensive vascular risk reduction, or both did not produce statistically significant improvements in cognitive function over 24 months. This suggests these approaches did not slow cognitive decline in older adults with dementia risk factors.
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Study details
- Participants3,290
- Effect size63.0%
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 67/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (JAMA neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | JAMA Neurology: journal h-index 235 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized 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 | 3 / 4 | 3,290 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| 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 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 14.1× 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 | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Ellen F. Binder: h-index 42 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Washington University in St. Louis: institution h-index 1,962 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 10 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41870419) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 67 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2026.0359
- PubMed: 41870419
- Original source →
- Free full text: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov →
Full text: free to read — Unpaywall lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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