# Guided Episodic Future Thinking to Increase Physical Activity Adherence and Promote Healthy Brain Aging Among Mid-Life Adults

> **NIH NIH R33** · UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $714,482

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Novel intervention strategies to increase physical activity need to reduce barriers to exercise and increase
adherence to achieve optimal brain health benefits. Despite considerable physical and brain health benefits
associated with exercise, most adults fail to adhere to recommended physical activity guidelines. Barriers,
including lack of time and low enjoyment of exercise, can lead to reduced adherence. Dual-system neural
models of behavior theorize two systems that drive behavior and can be engaged in interventions. The reward
brain system responds to and evaluates the rewarding properties of stimuli in the environment and drives
behaviors. The regulation brain system downregulates responses to rewarding stimuli and promotes healthy
behaviors by helping individuals adhere to and achieve their goals. Our long-term goal is to develop
enhancements to health behavior interventions that engage the reward and regulation mechanisms related to
increase adherence and promote optimal brain health. The rationale for the proposed study is based on previous
studies showing relationships between regulation, positive affect, and exercise and our preliminary data that
show targeting the regulation and reward systems increases healthy choices and positive affect. we will apply
the NIH Stage Model to develop guided imagery to target reward AND regulation brain systems and assess the
impact on exercise adherence. First, we will test a brief guided imagery approach to engage regulation and
reward brain systems and the acceptability of HIIT in mid-life adults (R61). We will use guided imagery that
includes PAI to increase positive associations with exercise and/or EFT to increase focus on one's healthy,
physically active, future self and increase regulation. We will dynamically refine the HIIT exercise intervention to
increase acceptability. Systematically testing the independent effects of engaging reward or regulation on
changes in reward and regulation indices and refining the HIIT protocol will help us develop the optimal
behavioral and exercise intervention approach. Next, we will test this approach and the impact on exercise
adherence and physical activity in a 6-week HIIT exercise intervention (R33). This innovative study fills a gap in
the current literature by examining the impact of EFT and positive affect guided imagery among mid-life adults
and will inform future interventions to improve health decision-making, promote healthy behaviors and brain
health, and reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10909388
- **Project number:** 5R33AG078087-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Laura E Martin
- **Activity code:** R33 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $714,482
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-15 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10909388

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10909388, Guided Episodic Future Thinking to Increase Physical Activity Adherence and Promote Healthy Brain Aging Among Mid-Life Adults (5R33AG078087-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10909388. Licensed CC0.

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