The Effect of Different Attention-Focused Training on Physical Performance and Cognitive Function in Geriatric Individuals

NCT06700928 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2024/6463
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The ability to walk safely and efficiently is crucial for older adults to maintain their independence and minimize the risk of falls. In healthy geriatric individuals, walking typically occurs as an automatic process involving motor skills, meaning the movement is generally performed with minimal conscious thought. However, attention can influence motor performance; a lack of focus or distraction can lead to loss of balance and increase the risk of falling during walking. The effects of attention focus on geriatric individuals remain uncertain. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of different attention-focused training on physical performance and cognitive function in geriatric individuals. In this randomized controlled trial, 60 participants will be randomly assigned to four groups: the internal focus exercise group (n = 15), the external focus exercise group (n = 15), the no attention focus group (n = 15), and the control group (n = 15). The control group will consist of participants from a different institution to prevent contamination. Participants in the non-control groups will attend training sessions twice a week (approximately 40 minutes each) for 12 weeks. The experimental groups will complete a total of 24 exercise sessions. All training sessions will be conducted by an experienced physiotherapist. Pre- and post-assessments will be conducted. The sociodemographic characteristics of all participants will be assessed using a descriptive form. Participants' physical performance will be evaluated using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the Stair Climbing Test, the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), a static balance test (single-leg stance test), and a dynamic balance test (Berg Balance Scale). Cognitive function will be assessed using the Central Nervous System Vital Signs (CNSVS) Cognitive Performance and Attention Tests. Additionally, participants' walking will be analyzed using Kinect V2 camera-based software. The data collected from the study will be analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Program for the Social Sciences). Descriptive statistics will include frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. For comparisons, the significance level (p) will be set at 0.05.

Conditions

Geriatric Individuals; Cognitive Function; Physical Performance

Keywords

Geriatric individuals; Attention focus; Internal focus; External focus; Physical performance; Cognitive function

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), stair climbing test, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Berg balance test, and single leg stance test

  The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), stair climbing test, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Berg balance test, and single leg stance test will be used to assess physical performance.

  12 weeks

• Central Nervous System Vital Signs (CNSVS)

  The "Central Nervous System Vital Signs (CNSVS) Cognitive Performance and Attention Tests" will be administered to assess cognitive functions. CNSVS is an evaluation tool designed to examine the neurocognitive status of individuals aged 7 to 90. It consists of several subtests, including the Verbal Memory Test, Visual Memory Test, Finger Tapping Test, Symbol-Digit Coding Test, Stroop Test, Continuous Performance Test, and Attention Switching Test. In our study, scores obtained from these subtests will be utilized. To determine the extent of neurocognitive impairment, classification is made based on standard score points. According to this classification: \>110 indicates high capacity, 90-110 indicates normal capacity, 80-89 indicates mild cognitive impairment, 70-79 indicates moderate cognitive impairment, and \<70 indicates severe cognitive impairment.

  12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Gait analysis using Kinect V2

  12 weeks

Study Arms (4)

Internal focus group

EXPERIMENTAL

After obtaining informed consent to participate in the study, all participants, regardless of group, will undergo an assessment by an experienced physiotherapist prior to group allocation. They will participate in exercise sessions lasting approximately 40 minutes, twice a week for 12 weeks in the internal focus group. A total of 24 sessions will be completed by each participant. Exercise sessions will be carried out by an experienced physiotherapist. Each training session will consist of warm-up (5 minutes), balance, transfer and reaching activities (10 minutes), internal focused walking (20 minutes) and cool-down (5 minutes) exercises. The first assessment will be made before the sessions start and the final assessment will be made after the 12-week exercise program.

Other: Internal focus training

External focus group

EXPERIMENTAL

After obtaining informed consent to participate in the study, all participants, regardless of group, will undergo an assessment by an experienced physiotherapist prior to group allocation. They will participate in exercise sessions lasting approximately 40 minutes, twice a week for 12 weeks in the external focus group. A total of 24 sessions will be completed by each participant. Exercise sessions will be carried out by an experienced physiotherapist. Each training session will consist of warm-up (5 minutes), balance, transfer and reaching activities (10 minutes), external focused walking (20 minutes) and cool-down (5 minutes) exercises. The first assessment will be made before the sessions start and the final assessment will be made after the 12-week exercise program.

Other: External focus training

No attention focus group

EXPERIMENTAL

After obtaining informed consent to participate in the study, all participants, regardless of group, will undergo an assessment by an experienced physiotherapist prior to group allocation. They will participate in exercise sessions lasting approximately 40 minutes, twice a week for 12 weeks in the no attention focus group. A total of 24 sessions will be completed by each participant. Exercise sessions will be carried out by an experienced physiotherapist. Each training session will consist of warm-up (5 minutes), balance, transfer and reaching activities (10 minutes), no attentional focus walking (20 minutes) and cool-down (5 minutes) exercises. The first assessment will be made before the sessions start and the final assessment will be made after the 12-week exercise program.

Other: No attentional focus training

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

no-intervention

Interventions

External focus training OTHER

External focus training

External focus group

Internal focus training OTHER

internal focus training

Internal focus group

No attentional focus training OTHER

no attentional focus training

No attention focus group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 65 years or older
• Willingness to participate in the study
• Ability to read and write
• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score \> 24
• Ability to independently perform the tests administered as part of the study
• Ability to walk independently in the community (without a walking aid and able to walk at least 40 meters)

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of orthopedic, neurological, vestibular, cognitive, or other medical conditions that may affect the applicability of the assessment methods or training interventions used in the study
• History of myocardial infarction and/or coronary bypass surgery within the past year
• Severe visual or auditory impairments causing communication difficulties
• Polypharmacy (use of five or more medications per day)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Müşerref Ebru ŞEN: lead

Central Study Contacts

MÜŞERREF EBRU ŞEN

CONTACT

+905557136666; m.ebrusen@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2024
• First Posted: November 22, 2024
• Study Start: February 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2026
• Last Updated: February 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share