Unpacking the "Mind" and "Body" Pathways of the Antidepressant Effect of Qigong in Older Adults: A Pilot Study
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 106
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Depressive symptoms
Study Overview
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.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Supportive Care
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 60 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •60 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.
Exclusion Criteria
- •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.
Arms & Interventions
Qigong
12-week training of Baduanjin (or named Eight-Section Brocades), with two sessions per week. Each session lasts for 60 min.
Intervention: Qigong (Behavioral)
Mindfulness-based Training
12-week training of mindfulness-based breathing, walking, and stretching practices, with two sessions per week. Each session lasts for 60 min.
Intervention: Mindfulness-based training (Behavioral)
Low-to-moderate Intensity Physical Exercise
12-week training of stretching, flexibility exercise, and balance exercise, with two sessions per week. Each session lasts for 60 min.
Intervention: Low-to-moderate intensity physical exercise (Behavioral)
Waitlist
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.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Depressive symptoms
Time Frame: Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)
The eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire
Global cognitive function
Time Frame: Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline)
Montreal Cognitive Assessment
Secondary Outcomes
- Inhibitory control(Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline))
- ERP N2 amplitude(Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline))
- ERP P3 amplitude(Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline))
- 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))
- Working memory(Baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks after baseline))
Investigators
TSANG Hector Wing-Hong
Professor
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University