ECEThe Entorhinal Cortex and Aerobic Exercise in Aging

Study start date: January 22, 2018

Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 60-80 years * Physical inactivity/sedentary status (The American College of Sports Medicine defines a sedentary lifestyle as a lifestyle in which a person is not participating in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on at least three days per week for at least three months.) * Generally healthy * Living in the greater Boston area * Fluent in English (must have attended elementary school and higher in English) * Non-smoking Exclusion Criteria: * Poor vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses * Presence of an acute infection * Diagnosis of kidney failure * Diagnosis of liver disease * Diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis/hyperthyroidism * Diagnosis of cancer * Diagnosis of severe anemia * Past or present conditions that affect cognitive functioning: * learning disability * neurological disorders or conditions (movement disorder, history of head trauma or stroke, epilepsy, etc.) * psychiatric disorders or conditions within last 5 years (depression, anxiety disorder, etc.) * Severe stress * Evidence of cognitive impairment (e.g. dementia) * Claustrophobia (fear of small, enclosed spaces) * Obesity * Past or present conditions that are counter indicators for participation in cardio-respiratory fitness assessment and physical exercise: * heart conditions (e.g. heart attack, arrhythmias, etc.) * circulatory conditions (e.g. uncontrolled hypertension, leg claudication, high cholesterol, etc.) * respiratory conditions (e.g., asthma or lung conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute bronchitis, acute common cold, lung cancer, pneumonia, etc.) * current musculoskeletal impairments (e.g. fractures, hemiplegia, chronic joint pain, arthritis, osteoporosis, not able to walk comfortably without assistance, etc.) * diagnosis of electrolyte disorder or abnormality * presence of diabetes mellitus * Prescription medication or other drugs that treat heart, lung, or circulatory conditions (e.g. beta blockers, bronchodilators, etc.) * Prescription medication or other drugs that affect chemicals in the brain (e.g. antidepressants, anxiolytics, etc.) * Drug abuse or alcohol misuse * Metal in or on the body that cannot be removed (e.g. pacemaker, defibrillator, metal implant that is ferrous) * Some known abnormal MRI findings (case by case basis) * Regularly exercising * Unavailable for the approx. 4-month duration of the study