Neuroplasticity: The Effects of Exercise Training on Cognitive and Affective Functioning of Older People

NCT04641429 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: UW 19-005
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study investigates the effects of exercise on older people's cognitive and affective functions, and the possible underlying neurobiological pathways.

Conditions

Healthy Ageing

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (12)

• Mean change from Baseline in cognitive processing speed scores on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test at 12 Weeks

  Changes of cognitive processing speed scores are measured by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test from baseline to end of intervention at 12 Weeks. Scores on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test range from 0-90, with a higher score indicating better performance.

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in sustained attention scores on the Continuous Performance Test at 12 Weeks

  Changes of sustained attention scores are measured by the Continuous Performance Test from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks. The accuracy scores on the Continuous Performance Test range from 0-100%, with a higher score indicating better performance.

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in working memory scores on the Digit Span-Backward Test at 12 Weeks

  Changes of working memory scores are measured by the Digit Span Backward Test from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks. Scores on the Digit Span-Backward test range from 2-13, with a higher score indicating better performance.

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in language scores on the Rapid Naming Test at 12 Weeks

  Changes of language scores are measured by the Rapid Naming Test from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks. Scores on the Rapid Naming Test range from 0-36, with a higher score indicating better performance.

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in trait affect scores on the Chinese Affect Scale at 12 Weeks

  Changes of trait positive affect and negative affect are measured by the Chinese Affect Scale from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks. Positive and negative affect scores on Chinese Affect Scale both range from 10-50, with a higher score indicating higher positive/negative affect.

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in affective processing by the Emotion Processing Task at 12 weeks

  Changes of affective stimuli processing are measured by the Emotion Processing Task from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks.

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in blood levels of cortisol at 12 Weeks

  Changes of blood biomarker levels of cortisol are measured from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks.

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in blood levels of interleukin-6 at 12 Weeks

  Changes of blood biomarker levels of interleukin-6 are measured from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks.

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in blood levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor at 12 Weeks

  Changes of blood biomarker levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor are measured from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks.

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in telomerase activity at 12 Weeks

  Changes of blood measurement of telomerase activity are measured from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks.

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in brain structure by magnetic resonance imaging at 12 Weeks

  Changes of brain structure are measured by T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging from baseline to end of intervention at 12 Weeks.

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in brain function by functional magnetic resonance imaging at 12 Weeks

  Changes of brain function are measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging from baseline to end of intervention at 12 Weeks.

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Mean change from Baseline in perceived stress scores on the Perceived Stress Scale at 12 weeks

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in insomnia severity scores on the Insomnia Severity Index at 12 weeks

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in quality of sleep on the Pittsburg Seep Quality Index at 12 weeks

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in depression and anxiety scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at 12 weeks

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

• Mean change from Baseline in perceived loneliness scores on the UCLA Loneliness Scale at 12 weeks

  from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Qigong

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the experimental group receive Qigong exercise training.

Behavioral: Qigong exercise

stretching

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in the control group receive stretching exercise training.

Behavioral: Stretching exercise

Interventions

Qigong exercise BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the experimental group receive 12-week group-based Qigong exercise training.

Qigong

Stretching exercise BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the control group receive 12-week group-based stretching exercise training.

stretching

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• At least finished primary school;
• Have normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing;
• Ability to do exercise;
• Right-hand dominance;
• Normal cognitive ability as assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Hong Kong version (HK-MoCA).

You may not qualify if:

• Abmormal anxiety or depression mood as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale;
• Current diagnosis or history of neurological or psychological conditions, such as substance abuse, psychotic disorders, or affective disorders;
• Current diagnosis or history of substance/alcohol abuse;
• Contraindications for MRI scanning (e.g. implanted metal);
• People who regularly practice any qigong, Tai Chi or similar exercise or meditation within 6 months before study;
• People who regularly practice moderate to high intensity physical exercise within 6 months before study. The operational definition of 'regular practice' is three times a week or more, at least 30 mins per time for at least 3 months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (1)

The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Qi D, Wong NML, Shao R, Man ISC, Wong CHY, Yuen LP, Chan CCH, Lee TMC. Qigong exercise enhances cognitive functions in the elderly via an interleukin-6-hippocampus pathway: A randomized active-controlled trial. Brain Behav Immun. 2021 Jul;95:381-390. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.04.011. Epub 2021 Apr 17.

  PMID: 33872709 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Muscle Stretching Exercises

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Tatia Lee, PhD

  The University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Tatia Lee, PhD

CONTACT

852-39178394; tmclee@hku.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Blinding the participants to the allocation is impossible due to the nature of intervention. But prior to the first training session, participants have no knowledge on which type of training they are going to receive.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Chair Professor

Model Details: In this intervention study, each participant is allocated to either the Qigong or stretching exercise training group in a pseudo-randomized order based on the recruitment orders and their availability.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 12, 2020
• First Posted: November 23, 2020
• Study Start: October 2, 2019
• Primary Completion: October 1, 2021
• Study Completion: October 1, 2021
• Last Updated: November 23, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)