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

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

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Healthy Ageing
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Qigong exercise; Behavioral: Stretching exercise

Detailed Description

Population aging is accelerating. The socioeconomic burden associated with an aging population calls for timely action for promoting brain health. The human brain has the capacity for plastic reorganization through learning and experience. Physical activity could induce plasticity and is important in the prevention of functional decline and increased survival. In this study, the effects of Qigong and stretching exercise on affective and cognitive function among the healthy elderly are investigated. This study is proposed to invite 200 participants (100 in each intervention condition). The investigators acquire data from questionnaires, assessments, neurocognitive tests, magnetic resonance imaging and blood samples at baseline (before the intervention) and post-intervention.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 200
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong, Hong Kong
    • Recruiting
    • The University of Hong Kong
    • Contact: Tatia Lee, PhD; Phone Number: 852-39178394; Email: tmclee@hku.hk
    • Principal Investigator: Tatia Lee, PhD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 50 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

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

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Abmormal anxiety or depression mood as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale;
2. Current diagnosis or history of neurological or psychological conditions, such as substance abuse, psychotic disorders, or affective disorders;
3. Current diagnosis or history of substance/alcohol abuse;
4. Contraindications for MRI scanning (e.g. implanted metal);
5. People who regularly practice any qigong, Tai Chi or similar exercise or meditation within 6 months before study;
6. 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.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Qigong; Participants in the experimental group receive Qigong exercise training.	Behavioral: Qigong exercise; Participants in the experimental group receive 12-week group-based Qigong exercise training.
Active Comparator: stretching; Participants in the control group receive stretching exercise training.	Behavioral: Stretching exercise; Participants in the control group receive 12-week group-based stretching exercise training.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
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 Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mean change from Baseline in perceived stress scores on the Perceived Stress Scale at 12 weeks	Changes of perceived stress scores are measured by the Perceived Stress Scale from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks. Scores on the Perceived Stress Scale range from 0-56, with a higher score indicating higher perceived stress.	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	Changes of insomnia severity scores are measured by the Insomnia Severity Index from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks. Scores on the Insomnia Severity Index range from 0-28, with a higher score indicating more severe insomnia.	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	Changes of quality of sleep scores are measured by the Pittsburg Seep Quality Index from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks. Scores on the Pittsburg Seep Quality Index range from 0-21, with a higher score indicating more severe sleeping difficulty.	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	Changes of depression and anxiety scores are measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks. Anxiety and Depression scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale both range from 0-21, with a higher score indicating more severe anxiety/depression mood.	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	Changes of perceived loneliness scores are measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks. The scores on the UCLA Loneliness Scale range from 20-80, with a higher score indicating greater perceived loneliness.	from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks
Mean change from Baseline in quality of life scores on the WHO Quality of Life-BREF scale at 12 weeks	Changes of quality of life scores are measured by the WHO Quality of Life-BREF scale from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks. The scores on the WHO Quality of Life-BREF scale range from 26-130, with a higher score indicating higher quality of life.	from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks
Mean change from Baseline in emotion reactivity scores on the Emotion Reactivity Scale at 12 weeks	Changes of emotion reactivity scores are measured by the Emotion Reactivity Scale from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks. The scores on the Emotion Reactivity Scale range from 0-84, with a higher score indicating greater emotional reactivity.	from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks
Mean change from Baseline in somatization scores on the somatization subscale of Symptom Check-List-90 at 12 weeks	Changes of somatization scores are measured by the somatization subscale of Symptom Check-List-90 from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks. Scores on the somatization subscale of Symptom Check-List-90 range from 0-48, with a higher score indicating greater somatization.	from baseline to end of intervention at 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Tatia Lee, PhD, The University of Hong Kong

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• 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.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 2, 2019
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): October 1, 2021
• Study Completion (Anticipated): October 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 12, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 20, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): November 23, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 23, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 20, 2020
• Last Verified: November 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: UW 19-005

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No