Effects of yoga, aerobic, and stretching and toning exercises on cognition in adult cancer survivors: protocol of the STAY Fit pilot randomized controlled trial

Neha P Gothe, Emily D Erlenbach, Samuel L Streeter, Linda Lehovec, Neha P Gothe, Emily D Erlenbach, Samuel L Streeter, Linda Lehovec

Abstract

Background: Cancer survivors experience compromised quality of life due to impaired cognitive function as a result of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Although exercise has proven to be effective in improving cognitive function across the lifespan, interventions comprehensively testing the effectiveness for cancer survivors are limited. The STAY Fit Trial is a three-armed pilot randomized controlled trial designed to compare the effects of a 12-week yoga, aerobic walking, and stretch and tone intervention on cognitive function among adult cancer survivors.

Methods: This pilot study aims to recruit 75 adult cancer survivors who will complete assessments of cognitive function, cardiovascular fitness, physical activity, and psychosocial measures at baseline and after the 12-week intervention. The aims of STAY Fit are (1) to assess the efficacy of yoga to improve cognitive function among cancer survivors, compared to aerobic exercise and an active control group; (2) to examine changes in cardiovascular fitness as a result of the interventions; and (3) to assess changes in quality of life among our population as a result of the exercise interventions.

Discussion: The STAY Fit Trial will test the effectiveness of yoga, aerobic exercise, and stretching and toning exercises in improving cognitive function and fitness among adult cancer survivors. The results of this pilot study will enable us to understand the most effective physical activity modality to improve cognitive function in this population and potentially combat cancer-related cognitive impairment.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03650322 . Registered on 28 August 2018.

Keywords: Cognition; Executive function; Fitness; Quality of life; Yoga.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The STAY Fit Trial schedule of enrollment, interventions, and assessments
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Flow of participants through the STAY Fit Trial

References

    1. Howlader N, Noone A, Krapcho M, Garshell J, Neyman N, Altekruse S, Kosary C, Yu M, Ruhl J, Tatalovich Z. SEER cancer statistics review, 1975–2013. Bethesda: Natl. Cancer Institute; 2013.
    1. Ahles TA, Saykin A. Cognitive effects of standard-dose chemotherapy in patients with cancer. Cancer Investig. 2001;19:812–820. doi: 10.1081/CNV-100107743.
    1. Wefel JS, Schagen SB. Chemotherapy-related cognitive dysfunction. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2012;12:267–275. doi: 10.1007/s11910-012-0264-9.
    1. Janelsins MC, Kesler SR, Ahles TA, Morrow GR. Prevalence, mechanisms, and management of cancer-related cognitive impairment. Int Rev Psychiatry. 2014;26:102–113. doi: 10.3109/09540261.2013.864260.
    1. Argyriou AA, Assimakopoulos K, Iconomou G, Giannakopoulou F, Kalofonos HP. Either called “chemobrain” or “chemofog,” the long-term chemotherapy-induced cognitive decline in cancer survivors is real. J Pain Symptom Manag. 2011;41:126–139. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2010.04.021.
    1. Jean-Pierre P, Johnson-Greene D, Burish TG. Neuropsychological care and rehabilitation of cancer patients with chemobrain: strategies for evaluation and intervention development. Support Care Cancer. 2014;22:2251–2260. doi: 10.1007/s00520-014-2162-y.
    1. Daum CW, Cochrane SK, Fitzgerald JD, Johnson L, Buford TW. Exercise interventions for preserving physical function among cancer survivors in middle to late life. J Frailty Aging. 2016;5:214–224. doi: 10.14283/jfa.2016.92.
    1. Spence RR, Heesch KC, Brown WJ. Exercise and cancer rehabilitation: a systematic review. Cancer Treat Rev. 2010;36:185–194. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2009.11.003.
    1. Smith PJ, Blumenthal JA, Hoffman BM, Cooper H, Strauman TA, Welsh-Bohmer K, Browndyke JN, Sherwood A. Aerobic exercise and neurocognitive performance: a meta-analytic review of randomized controlled trials. Psychosom Med. 2010;72:239. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181d14633.
    1. Northey JM, Cherbuin N, Pumpa KL, Smee DJ, Rattray B. Exercise interventions for cognitive function in adults older than 50: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Br J Sport Med. 2018;52:154–160. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096587.
    1. Danhauer SC, Addington EL, Sohl SJ, Chaoul A, Cohen L. Review of yoga therapy during cancer treatment. Support Care Cancer. 2017;25:1357–1372. doi: 10.1007/s00520-016-3556-9.
    1. Buffart LM, Van Uffelen JGZ, Riphagen II, Brug J, van Mechelen W, Brown WJ, Chinapaw MJM. Physical and psychosocial benefits of yoga in cancer patients and survivors, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Cancer. 2012;12:559. doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-559.
    1. Gothe NP, McAuley E. Yoga and cognition: a meta-analysis of chronic and acute effects. Psychosom Med. 2015;77:784–797. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000218.
    1. Gothe NP, Kramer AF, Mcauley E. The effects of an 8-week hatha yoga intervention on executive function in older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2014;69. 10.1093/gerona/glu095.
    1. Smith KB, Pukall CF. An evidence-based review of yoga as a complementary intervention for patients with cancer. Psychooncology. 2009;18:465–475. doi: 10.1002/pon.1411.
    1. Thabane L, Ma J, Chu R, Cheng J, Ismaila A, Rios LP, Robson R, Thabane M, Giangregorio L, Goldsmith CH. A tutorial on pilot studies: the what, why and how. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2010;10:1. doi: 10.1186/1471-2288-10-1.
    1. Thomas S, Reading J, Shephard RJ. Revision of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q). Can J Sport Sci. 1992;17(4):338–45. .
    1. Salthouse TA. Selective review of cognitive aging. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2010;16:754–760. doi: 10.1017/S1355617710000706.
    1. Eriksen BA, Eriksen CW. Effects of noise letters upon the identification of a target letter in a nonsearch task. Percept Psychophys. 1974;16:143–149. doi: 10.3758/BF03203267.
    1. Erickson KI, Prakash RS, Voss MW, Chaddock L, Hu L, Morris KS, White SM, Wojcicki TR, McAuley E, Kramer AF. Aerobic fitness is associated with hippocampal volume in elderly humans. Hippocampus. 2009;19:1030–1039. doi: 10.1002/hipo.20547.
    1. Voss MW, Prakash RS, Erickson KI, Basak C, Chaddock L, Kim JS, Alves H, Heo S, Szabo AN, White SM, Wójcicki TR, Mailey EL, Gothe N, Olson EA, McAuley E, Kramer AF. Plasticity of brain networks in a randomized intervention trial of exercise training in older adults. Front Aging Neurosci. 2010;2. 10.3389/fnagi.2010.00032.
    1. Reitan RM. Validity of the trail making test as an indicator of organic brain damage. Percept Mot Skills. 1958;8:271. doi: 10.2466/pms.8.7.271-276.
    1. Raven JC, John Hugh Court. Raven's progressive matrices and vocabulary scales. Oxford: Oxford pyschologists Press; 1998.
    1. Watson PD, Voss JL, Warren DE, Tranel D, Cohen NJ. Spatial reconstruction by patients with hippocampal damage is dominated by relational memory errors. Hippocampus. 2013;23:570–580. doi: 10.1002/hipo.22115.
    1. Salthouse TA, Babcock RL. Decomposing adult age differences in working memory. Dev Psychol. 1991;27:763–776. doi: 10.1037/0012-1649.27.5.763.
    1. Pollock ML, Foster C, Schmidt D, Hellman C, Linnerud AC, Ward A. Comparative analysis of physiologic responses to three different maximal graded exercise test protocols in healthy women. Am Heart J. 1982;103:363–373. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(82)90275-7.
    1. Swain DP, Brawner CA, American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM's resource manual for guidelines for exercise testing and prescription. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2014.
    1. Clarke TC, Black LI, Stussman BJ, Barnes PM, Nahin RL. Trends in the use of complementary health approaches among adults: United States, 2002–2012. Natl Health Stat Rep. 2015;79:1.
    1. Karvonen MJ. The effects of training on heart rate: a longitudinal study. Ann Med Exp Fenn. 1957;35:307–315.
    1. Borg GA. Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sport Exerc. 1982;14. 10.1249/00005768-198205000-00012.

Source: PubMed

Patrocinadores y Colaboradores

Condiciones médicas

Intervenciones de drogas

3
Suscribir