Automatic Reaction to Physical Activity and Sedentary Stimuli in Aging

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Aging
• Interventions: Behavioral: Adjusted Cognitive-biased modification task; Behavioral: Cognitive-biased modification task

• Registration Number: NCT05704660
• Lead Sponsor: University of Ottawa

Brief Summary

Most individuals are aware of the benefits to health of regular physical activity and have good intentions to exercise. Yet, 1.4 billion people worldwide are inactive, which suggests that turning intention into action can be challenging. Recent findings show that the intention-action gap could be explained by negative automatic reactions (which is a component of dual-task theory) to stimuli associated with physical activity. This gap is particularly concerning in older adults, who are more likely to spontaneously associate physical activity with fear, pain, or discomfort. To promote physical activity, the current project proposes to train older adults to suppress their automatic attraction toward sedentary stimuli and to respond positively to physical-activity stimuli. This evidence-based and low-cost intervention aims to improve physical functioning and quality of life for these population. The results will inform public-health policies and improve clinical interventions that aim to counteract a global health problem: the pandemic of physical inactivity.

Detailed Description

Physical activity is one of the top contributors to health, reducing rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and depression. This wide spectrum of benefits is particularly important for older adults, who often suffer structural and functional deterioration in several physiological systems. Physical activity can reduce and delay the impact of this age-related deterioration in health and functional independence. Current interventions to enhance physical activity in older adults rely mainly on reflective processes by providing rational information about the health benefits of a physically active lifestyle. While these interventions successfully increase intention, their effect on actual behavior is weak. That is, most individuals are now aware of the positive effects of regular physical activity and have the intention to exercise. However, this intention is not sufficient and exercise plans are often not executed. This gap between intention and action is a challenge that health professionals need to address to counteract the pandemic of physical inactivity. Recent findings suggest that this inability to turn the intention into action is explained by negative automatic reactions to stimuli associated with physical activity. These automatic reactions could be particularly strong in older adults, who are more likely to associate physical activity with fear, pain, or discomfort. This study aims to test the effect of an intervention that targets the automatic processes underlying physical inactivity in older adults. The intervention is expected to reduce physical inactivity during the intervention and at follow-up, thereby improving physical functioning and quality of life.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2023-01
• Study First Submitted: 2023-01-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-01-26
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-01-26
• Study First Posted: 2023-01-30
• Last Update Posted: 2023-01-30
• Study Start: 2023-09
• Primary Completion: 2024-09
• Study Completion: 2025-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 216

Inclusion Criteria

• 60 years of age or older and able to understand instructions in English.

Exclusion Criteria

• Diagnosed psychiatric disorders or neurological condition (e.g., stork, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, dementia)
• Unable to carry out the training program
• Unable to understand the protocol
• Motor deficit preventing physical activity without external help
• Physical health status preventing physical activity
• Alcohol or substance dependence.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Adjusted and modified Cognitive-Biased Modification Task	Adjusted Cognitive-biased modification task	The intervention is based on a Go/No-Go task.
Normal Cognitve-Biased modification Task	Cognitive-biased modification task	The Sham-intervention is based on a Go/No-Go task.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Physical activity Tracker	"7 days", at least "7 hours" per day (not to used it during shower or when they sleep at night).	Assessing the number of step.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Hand grip strength	Before and after intervention ( "One minute" to carry out)	The grip strength will be evaluated using a dynamometer. The higher the value obtained by the participant, the stronger the grip.
World Health Organization Quality of Life (BREF)	Before and after intervention ( "20 minutes" to carry out)	Assessing quality of life over four domains. Scores for each domain can range from zero to 100, with higher scores indicating better quality of life.
Approach-avoidance task	Before and after intervention, and at the beginning of each intervention session ("30 minutes" to carry out)	To measure automatic approach and avoidance tendencies toward physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Faster and the more accurate reaction toward a stimuli (e.g., physical activity) indicates a stronger tendency to approach that specific stimuli.
International Physical Activity Questionnaire (Short Form)	Before and after intervention ("10 minutes" to fill out)	The usual level of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in minutes per week will be assessed.
Six-Minute Walk Test	Before and after intervention ("6 minutes" to carry out)	Total distance walked in "6 minutes" will be documented. The outcome is the distance walked during the "6 minutes".
Explicit Affective Attitude Toward Physical Activity	Before and after intervention ("2-5 minute" to carry out)	Mean of two items based on two "7-point" scales (unpleasant-pleasant; unenjoyable-enjoyable). A higher score indicates more positive attitudes toward physical activity.