Stretching and Yoga Exercise Study

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign118 enrolled

Overview

The investigators propose to test the effects of an 8-week supervised, site-based, group yoga intervention on cognition and functional fitness in older adults. The SAY Exercise study will compare the yoga group to a stretching group to determine if the program improves attention and cognition, reduces functional limitations, enhances functional performance in everyday activities, as well as psychological health in sedentary older adults between 55-80 years of age. The investigators also propose to assess heart rate variability using a 3-lead EKG and salivary cortisol levels to understand the moderators of the yoga-cognition relationship.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

118

Conditions

Aging

Interventions

Yoga ConditionBEHAVIORAL

Classes lasting one hour, held 3 times per week for 8 weeks.

Stretching ConditionBEHAVIORAL

Classes lasting one hour, held 3 times per week for 8 weeks.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 55 YearsMax age: 80 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 55-80 yrs of age * Low active: zero to two days of physical activity (\>30 minutes per day) per week, in previous six months * Personal physicians consent to participate in testing and exercise intervention * Not involved in any other physical activity/exercise research study or cognitive training study. * Adequate responses to the Telephone interview of Cognitive Status (TICS-M) questionnaire * Corrected (near and far) acuity of 20/40 or better in both eyes * Initial depression score on GDS-15 below clinical levels (\>5) * Able to get up and down from the floor * Comfortable with reading, writing and speaking English Exclusion Criteria: * Below 55 or over 80 years of age * High physical activity levels (more than 2 times per week, \>30 minutes, in the last 6 months) * Regular yoga practitioners (previously or currently practicing for more than 6 months) * Involved in other physical activity/exercise research study or cognitive training study * Non-consent of the physician * Inadequate response on the GDS-15 and TICS-M * Uncorrected (near and far) acuity of greater than 20/40 in either eye * Inability to communicate effectively in English * Intent to be away from the area for a long period of time resulting in more than 2 absences at the exercise sessions

Locations (1)

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Urbana, Illinois, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Changes in cognition as assessed by a neuropsychological battery of computer based and paper pencil tests from baseline to 8 weeks

Participants will complete a neuropsychological battery of tasks assessing memory, attention, decision making at baseline (before beginning the program) and at week 8 (after completing the exercise program).

Time frame: Baseline - 8 week

Secondary Outcomes

Change in functional fitness from baseline to 8 weeks

Participants will complete a battery of physical function tests assessing balance, flexibility, strength and mobility at baseline and week 8.

Time frame: Baseline - 8 week

Change in psychosocial outcomes from baseline to 8 weeks

Participants will complete a packet of questionnaires assessing self-esteem, postitive and negative affect including anxiety and depression, self-efficacy and other psychosocial outcomes.

Time frame: Baseline - 8 week

Change in salivary cortisol from baseline to 8 weeks

Participants will be providing a small saliva sample via a passive drool into a vial. The compound of interest is cortisol (an indicator of body stress).

Time frame: Baseline - week 8

Change in heart rate variability from baseline to 8-weeks

The EKG for each participant will also be recorded in response to a 5 minute unpaced (normal) breathing and 5-minute paced (set to a metronome) breathing. All participants will complete these assessments at baseline and week 8.

Time frame: Baseline - 8 week

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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