Currently, 100 volunteers aged 65 or over and diagnosed with cancer are needed to take part in the PROFIT study, headed by Dr Marco Inzitari from the VHIR Ageing, Frailty and Transitions Research Group in Barcelona (REFiT-BCN), to assess the benefits of physical exercise in elderly people with cancer. The study is funded by the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC).

How does the study work?

All volunteers will have an initial visit with an expert physiotherapist to assess whether they meet the study participation criteria. Next, the participants will be divided into two groups: the intervention group and the control group.

• The intervention group will take an adapted exercise programme:20 on-site sessions (two per week for 10 weeks) at Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili, in the evenings. The sessions will be supervised by a professional physiotherapist and will include muscle strength, exercise, balance and other components.
• The control group will receive 10 videos, one a week, that guide and accompany exercise done individually at home; they will also receive a weekly call to see how they are and whether they have any questions about the videos.

Both groups will undergo two further assessments, one at three months and the other at six, to assess the impact (of either the exercise intervention or the videos) on their physical function.

Participation in the study is completely free of charge.

Who can participate in the study?

Volunteers who want to take part in the PROFIT study must:

• Be aged 65 or more
• Have a diagnosis of lung, prostate or gastrointestinal cancer
• Have mild-moderate frailty (as determined by the expert physiotherapist)
• Have a life expectancy of three months or more.
• The participants may or may not be on cancer treatment.

Volunteers are needed to participate in a study headed by Dr Marco Inzitari, head of the Ageing, Frailty and Transitions Research Group in Barcelona (REFiT-BCN), to assess the benefits of physical exercise on physical and cognitive function in elderly people (over 65) with mild mobility and memory problems.

The study is part of the FRONTSTAGE project by the REFiT-BCN Group at Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili, affiliated with the VHIR, together with the Barcelona Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO).

How does the study work?

All volunteers will have an initial visit with a geriatric physician, who will assess whether they meet the study participation criteria. The participants will then be divided into three groups:

• The intervention group will take a physical exercise programme guided by an expert physiotherapist for 10 weeks at Parc Sanitari Pere Virgili.
• The second group will do exercise while a low-intensity current is applied to stimulate brain activity (transcranial direct current stimulation).
• The control group will watch 10 videos, one a week, with recommendations on healthy ageing. They will also receive a weekly call to see how they are and whether they have any questions about the videos.

The groups  will undergo two subsequent assessments, one at three months and other at six, to assess the impact (of the exercise intervention or the videos) on their physical, cognitive and brain metabolism function. Using safe, non-invasive techniques, we will study whether the intervention improves brain activity while walking .

Participation in the study is completely free of charge.

Who can participate in the study?

Volunteers who want to take part in the FRONTSTAGE study must:

• Be aged 65 or more
• Have problems walking (walking slowly or falls)
• Mild cognitive impairment (memory problems)