Effect of Episodic Future Thinking on Promoting Physical Activity Among Older Adults With Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Motor Cognitive Risk (MCR), a pre-dementia state characterized by the coexistence of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and slow gait speed, has a high prevalence among community-dwelling older adults in China and is associated with significantly increased risks of progression to dementia and other adverse health outcomes. Physical activity is the most cost-effective non-pharmacological intervention for slowing cognitive decline and the modifiable factor with the greatest contribution to dementia prevention. However, older adults with cognitive impairment commonly face behavioral challenges such as insufficient physical activity and difficulty maintaining adherence. Episodic Future Thinking (EFT), a novel intervention strategy grounded in health psychology and behavioral economics, has been shown to promote healthy behaviors by reducing delay discounting rates and enhancing future orientation. The goal of this randomized controlled study is to test the effect of EFT intervention in promoting physical activity among older adults with MCR.

NCT Number	NCT07554027
Lead Sponsor	Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University
Conditions	Physical Activities, Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome
Enrollment	166 participants
Start Date	2026-05
Primary Completion	2026-12 (estimated)
Study Completion	2027-03 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-04-28