The SINgapore GERiatric Intervention Study to Reduce Cognitive Decline and Physical Frailty (SINGER) is a randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of locally-adapted FINGER interventions in adults aged 60-80 at risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.
The study will examine whether a random assignment to a Self-Guided Intervention (SGI) versus Structured Lifestyle Intervention (SLI) focused on regular aerobic exercise, adherence to the FINGER diet, cognitive and social stimulation, and protocol-based vascular monitoring improves cognitive and physical performance.
The project started in August 2021. At the end of 2023, the study team celebrated the sucessful completion of recruitment of 1,212 participants. The team expects to complete interventions and follow-ups by the end of 2025. This includes the follow-ups investigating participants’ long term adherence with the FINGER lifestyle changes.
The primary outcome of the trial is global cognition. Secondary outcome measures include domain-specific cognition such as episodic memory, executive function, and processing speed and function, as well as imaging evidence of brain and retinal changes, incidence and progression of chronic diseases, blood biomarkers, quality of life, mental health, and cost-benefit analysis.
By establishing the efficacy of multidomain interventions in the prevention of cognitive decline, the SINGER project aims to implement the findings into national public health and clinical practices by informing policy makers and guiding the design of community and individual level health promotion initiatives.
SINGER is led by the National University of Singapore, with a partner recruitment site in the Nanyang Technological University, and is an interdisciplinary research team collaboration with other institutions in Singapore.
