FIT BOLD Research Study

Older adults with a history of depression may be more likely to have problems with their memory and thinking, even if they are no longer experiencing symptoms of depression. Lifestyle modification has been shown to improve brain health in older adults, but researchers do not fully understand this relationship.

The purpose of this study is to better understand the role of adopting a healthy lifestyle in preserving brain health in recently depressed older adults. Researchers hope their findings lead to better ways to improve brain health in older adults with a history of depression in the future.

• Age 60 and up
• Recovered from depression in the past two years
• Currently receiving treatment for your depression (includes medication and/or talk therapy)
• Exercised less than three times per week, less than 30-minutes per session, over the past three months
• Able to walk without assistance and safely engage in moderate-intensity exercise

Eligible participants will be asked to complete a baseline visit that includes an interview, MRI scan, and fitness test, as well as one week of activity monitoring. Following this visit, participants will be randomly assigned to one of two lifestyle programs: a holistic healthy aging program focused on self-management of multiple dimensions of health or a supervised moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program. Both programs will last for six months. At the halfway mark and at the end of the intervention, assessments from the baseline visit will be repeated.