Understanding the Psychological Benefits and Neurophysiological Mechanisms of Qigong in Older Adults

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Qigong

Treatments: Behavioral: Physical exercise; Behavioral: Mindfulness-based intervention; Behavioral: Qigong (Baduanjin)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06952166

15104721-2

Details and patient eligibility

About

One goal of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of qigong to alleviate depressive symptoms and enhance cognitive function in comparison to mindfulness-based intervention, physical exercise, and waitlist control. The other goal is to explore the changes in neurobiological markers that may explain the qigong-related effects on depressive symptoms and cognitive function. The main research questions are:

• Is the 12-week qigong training more effective than mindfulness-based intervention, physical exercise, and waitlist control to alleviate depressive symptoms?
• Is the 12-week qigong training more effective than mindfulness-based intervention, physical exercise, and waitlist control to enhance 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.

Enrollment: 180 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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.
• Be able to communicate in Cantonese or Mandarin.

Exclusion criteria

• Have 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 intervention
• Have changed medications or the dose of medications prescribed for their health condition in the one month prior to study enrollment
• Have severe cognitive or language impairment based on the assessment with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
• Taking medication or undergoing electroconvulsive therapy, psychotherapy, or psychoeducation for a psychological or psychiatric condition
• Unable to demonstrate satisfactory standing balance

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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180 participants in 4 patient groups

Qigong (Baduanjin)

Experimental group

Description:

12-week training of Baduanjin, with two sessions per week. Each session lasts for 60 min.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Qigong (Baduanjin)

Mindfulness-based intervention

Active Comparator group

Description:

12-week training of mindfulness-based breathing, walking, and stretching practices, with two sessions per week. Each session lasts for 60 min.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mindfulness-based intervention

Physical exercise

Active Comparator group

Description:

12-week training of stretching, flexibility exercise, and balance exercise, with two sessions per week. Each session lasts for 60 min.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Physical exercise

Waitlist control

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants of the waitlist control group will not receive any training while the other three group are having their interventions. After the completion of the all assessments, the participants will receive the 12-week qigong training, same as the qigong group.