Unpacking the "Mind" and "Body" Pathways of the Antidepressant Effect of Qigong in Older Adults: A Pilot Study

NCT06804408 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 15104721-1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 106
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goals of the study are to explore the neurobiological mechanisms and cognitive benefits of qigong in older adults. The main research questions are:

• Does 12-week qigong training lead to significant enhancement in serum adiponectin, serum BDNF and significant reduction in salivary cortisol?
• Does 12-week qigong training bring significant improvement in global cognitive function? Participants are older adults aged 60 or above. They were randomly assigned to qigong training, mindfulness training, physical exercise training, or wait-list which all last for 12 weeks. Their changes before and after the 12-week period in depressive symptoms, neurobiological markers, and cognitive functions are assessed.

Conditions

Qigong

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Depressive symptoms

  The eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire

  Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)

• Global cognitive function

  Montreal Cognitive Assessment

  Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Serum adiponectin

  Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)

• Serum BDNF

  Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)

• Salivary cortisol

  Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)

• Attention

  Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)

• Inhibitory control

  Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)

Study Arms (4)

Qigong

EXPERIMENTAL

12-week training of Baduanjin (or named Eight-Section Brocades), with two sessions per week. Each session lasts for 60 min.

Behavioral: Qigong

Mindfulness-based Training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

12-week training of mindfulness-based breathing, walking, and stretching practices, with two sessions per week. Each session lasts for 60 min.

Behavioral: Mindfulness-based training

Low-to-moderate Intensity Physical Exercise

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

12-week training of stretching, flexibility exercise, and balance exercise, with two sessions per week. Each session lasts for 60 min.

Behavioral: Low-to-moderate intensity physical exercise

Waitlist

NO INTERVENTION

No training while the other three group are receiving training. Participants of this group are allowed to have Qigong, Mindfulness-based Training, or Low-to-moderate Intensity Physical Exercise after they complete all the assessments.

Interventions

Qigong BEHAVIORAL

12-week training of Baduanjin (or named Eight-Section Brocades), with two sessions per week. Each session lasts for 60 min.

Qigong

Mindfulness-based training BEHAVIORAL

12-week training of mindfulness-based breathing, walking, and stretching practices, with two sessions per week. Each session lasts for 60 min.

Mindfulness-based Training

Low-to-moderate intensity physical exercise BEHAVIORAL

12-week training of stretching, flexibility exercise, and balance exercise, with two sessions per week. Each session lasts for 60 min.

Low-to-moderate Intensity Physical Exercise

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• years or older;
• With mild or severer levels of depressive symptoms as indicated by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-8) scores of 5 or above, or Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) depression subscale scores of 4 or above
• Self-identified as physically stable and without life-threatening diseases.

You may not qualify if:

• With a history of practicing or receiving training of any form of mind-body or regular exercises (including tai chi, yoga, and qigong, or regular physical activity \> 3 times/week) during the month prior to study enrollment
• Having changed medications or the dose of medications prescribed for their health condition in the month prior to study enrollment
• With severe cognitive or language impairment as defined as a score of less than 21 on Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-5min)
• Undergoing electroconvulsive therapy, psychotherapy, or psychoeducation for a psychological or psychiatric condition
• Unable to demonstrate satisfactory standing balance.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences

Kowloon, Hong Kong

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Qigong

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Breathing Exercises; Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Exercise Movement Techniques; Physical Therapy Modalities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 7, 2025
• First Posted: February 3, 2025
• Study Start: May 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: May 31, 2024
• Study Completion: August 31, 2024
• Last Updated: February 3, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)