Qigong and Executive Attention in Older Adults with Depressive Symptoms

NCT06852417 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 15612625
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 200
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to test whether executive attention unpacks the antidepressant effect of Baduanjin (a form of health qigong) in older adults. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Is Baduanjin an effective treatment to enhance executive attention in older adults with depressive symptoms?
• Does Baduanjin work through enhanced executive attention to alleviate depressive symptoms in older adults? Researchers will compare Baduanjin with waitlist control. Participants will receive 12-week Baduanjin training (two sessions per week and 60 min per session).

Conditions

Intervention; Waitlist Control

Keywords

Health qigong; Baduanjin; executive attention; depressive symptoms

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Executive attention

  The Attention Network Test (ANT) will be used to assess executive attention. The ANT is a computer-based test based on a combination of Posner's cueing task and the Flanker task. Executive attention will be operationalized as the difference in reaction time (measured in ms) in congruent and incongruent trials.

  Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Depressive symptoms

  Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)

• Amplitude of N2 component

  Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)

• Amplitude of P3 component

  Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)

• Alerting

  Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)

• Orienting

  Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)

Study Arms (2)

Baduanjin

EXPERIMENTAL

This arm is for intervention group who will receive health qigong training.

Behavioral: Health qigong training

Waitlist control

NO INTERVENTION

The arm is for control group who will not receive any training.

Interventions

Health qigong training BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive two 60-minute Baduanjin qigong training sessions every week under the instruction and supervision of qualified qigong instructors over 12 weeks (i.e., 24 sessions in total). Baduanjin qigong consists of eight forms of gentle movements, and it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete a full cycle. Participants will learn to practice each form gradually over the first 12 sessions. In the remaining 12 sessions, the participants will go through all the movements 2-3 times, with guided practice on rhythmic breathing and mind regulation (attention to body and breathing) to be performed in coordination with the movements. Instructions on each movement, voice-guide audios, and demonstration videos will be provided for participants' daily self-practice. They will be advised to practice Baduanjin for at least 10 minutes every day.

Baduanjin

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• have mild or severer levels of depressive symptoms, as indicated by Geriatric Depression Scale scores of 5 or above or Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 depression subscale scores of 4 or above
• self-identified as physically stable and without life-threatening diseases
• be able to communicate in Cantonese or Mandarin.

You may not qualify if:

• (have a history of practicing or receiving training in 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 recruitment
• have changed medications or the dose of medications prescribed for their health condition in the month prior to study enrollment
• have a severe cognitive or language impairment, as indicated by a score of less than 21 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment
• receiving pharmacological treatment, electroconvulsive therapy, psychotherapy, or psychoeducation for any psychological or psychiatric condition upon the time of recruitment
• be unable to demonstrate satisfactory standing balance.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 24, 2025
• First Posted: February 28, 2025
• Study Start: January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2028
• Last Updated: March 3, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-02