Cycli: A Guided Exercise System for Reducing Comorbidities in Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer s diseaseADis a common condition that affects overmillion older adults in the USAD inhibits self care and is associated with an increase in comorbiditiesincluding diabetescongestive heart failureand cerebrovascular diseaseOne of the most important factors in maintaining autonomy with AD and in reducing comorbidities is participation in regular physical activityUnfortunatelyfor individuals with mild cognitive impairmentMCIor mild dementia due to ADroutine participation in physical activity is difficult due to safety concerns and the need for supervisionremindersor guidanceA guided exercise system could make it easier for individuals with MCI or mild dementia to remain activehoweverto our knowledgethere is no commercially available exercise system that is specifically designed to safely encourage routine physical activity in individuals with these conditionsFlint Rehab has previously developed Cyclia low profileBluetooth enabled exercise cycle that would be well suited for use by individuals with MCI or mild dementia to exerciseFlint Rehab has also previously developed atouchscreen tablet called the Flint Tablet that runs a customized operating system to increase the ease ofuse of our software for individuals that are unfamiliar with technologyCycli was originally developed for general wellnessbut we hypothesize thatwith the addition of a guided exercise application designed specifically for individuals with MCI or mild dementiaCycli can safely increase the amount of physical activity performed by these individuals in routine lifeThusfor this Phase I project we propose to develop a novel guided exercise application for Cycli that runs on the Flint Tablet and is specifically designed to support individuals with MCI or mild dementia and their caregivers as they work together to maintain regular exercise habitsThis approach has three key advantagesFirstit will provide easy access to a safe and effective exercise modality for older individualsstationary cyclingSecondit will be able to monitor a user s exercise performanceincreasing accountabilityThirdit will motivate users to maintain regular exercise habits by using automated remindersimmersive audio and visual feedback during exerciseand social networking featuresOur specific aims are toPerform structured interviews with clinical expertsNto optimize the design of the Cycli guided exercise systemDevelop a prototype exercise guidance application for the Flint Tablet based on design requirements from Aimand iterative expert feedbackandPerform a usability study of Cycli withindividuals with MCI or mild dementia due to AD to determine if it can safely promote unsupervised physical activityIf this project is successfulit would be the first step in developing Cycli as a home exercise tool that could promote a healthier and more autonomous lifestyle for individuals with ADleading to lower rates of comorbidities This research is relevant to public health because it will increase the amount of physical activity performed by older individuals with mild cognitive impairmentthus reducing their risk of secondary complicationsThis will provide a pathway to a better life for millions of U S citizens suffering from cognitive decline due to Alzheimer s diseaseNot only does regular physical activity improve an individual s overall healthit also improves functional abilityincreasing the standard of living of individuals with cognitive impairment and reducing the burden on their caregivers