# MIND Foods and Aerobic Training in Black Adults with HTN: An ADRD Prevention Pilot RCT (MAT)

> **NIH NIH R01** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2024 · $644,022

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Hypertension rates among middle-aged non-Hispanic black (NHB) adults are among the highest in the world,
which is a significant source of racial disparities in ADRD. In September 2020, two NIH directors recommended
safety-net health care providers and patients and scientists co-design novel interventions to alleviate racial and
socioeconomic disparities in hypertension. Also in 2020, the Lancet Commission on dementia prevention noted
that lifestyle interventions may be particularly efficacious for ADRD prevention in subpopulations with high
cardiovascular disease risk. This evidence points to a significant need for behavioral intervention co-design
with subpopulations at high cardiovascular risk.
Thus, we worked with safety-net primary care providers and NHB patients to iteratively co-design an
intervention to support hypertension self-management and Mediterranean-Dash Intervention for
Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet and aerobic training (MAT). Due to the co-design process, MAT
addresses patient and safety-net provider preferences and thus may be an engaging and sustainable strategy
in an externally valid setting for the promotion of MIND diet and aerobic activity in a very high-risk
subpopulation. MAT is also likely to be potent as over 50% of CVD among NHB adults has been attributed to
poor diet and fitness, which contribute greatly to ADRD disparities.
MAT involves our CDC-endorsed hypertension self-management education and support classes followed by
home-delivered MIND food ingredients and twice-weekly MIND cooking, nutrition, and aerobic activity via
videoconference. This novel intervention has not been evaluated for its effects on cognition. In an early stage
randomized controlled trial, we aim to demonstrate feasibility and investigate MAT effects on cognition.
We propose to test, in a Stage IB pilot RCT, MAT versus our attention control intervention (AC). We will
randomize 128 NHB safety-net primary care patients with high systolic blood pressure (≥140 mm Hg) to 28wks
of AC or MAT. Provider-led MAT is 28wks followed by 24wks of self-led MAT. Measures will be at baseline,
post-treatment (28 weeks), and follow-up (52 weeks). We will measure feasibility and cognition. We will also
explore intervention processes and obtain and store blood samples for possible future analyses. A successful
pilot would support a follow-on ADRD prevention trial across safety-net primary care sites with the objectives of
ADRD prevention and reduction of ADRD disparities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10804605
- **Project number:** 5R01AG076685-02
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** DANIEL O CLARK
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $644,022
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-03-15 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10804605

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10804605, MIND Foods and Aerobic Training in Black Adults with HTN: An ADRD Prevention Pilot RCT (MAT) (5R01AG076685-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10804605. Licensed CC0.

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