This study aims to examine the effects of dietary intervention combined with physical-cognitive exergaming on cognitive performance and circulating biomarkers of obese postmenopausal women. It is hypothesized that participants will demonstrate significant improvement in cognitive performance and circulating biomarkers after participating in this combined program compared to baseline and the dietary and control groups.
An association between obesity and cognitive impairment has been consistently reported. The risk of having dementia in later life is about 74% higher for middle-aged obese individuals than those with normal BMI. Estrogen deprivation has also been found to impair cognition. Thus, obese postmenopausal women are likely to be at risk of having cognitive impairment. The common recommendation for obesity management is dietary and exercise intervention. Research evidence has demonstrated that either dietary intervention or moderate-vigorous intensity exercise enhance cognitive function in obese adults. This study aims to examine the effects of 12-week home-based dietary intervention combined with physical-cognitive exergaming on cognitive performance and circulating biomarkers of obese postmenopausal women through a randomised controlled trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the four groups: 1) dietary intervention 2) combined physical-cognitive exergaming, 3) dietary intervention combined with physical-cognitive exergaming, and 4) control group. Outcome measures including cognitive performance (i.e. executive function, episodic memory, attention, language, and global cognition), circulating biomarkers (i.e. BDNF level, metabolic parameters, inflammation markers, and adiponectin levels) as well as physical performance will be determined at baseline and after 12-week intervention. Findings from this study may offer a feasible and effective intervention program to improve cognitive performance along with its responsible circulating biomarkers in obese postmenopausal women.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
92
Intermittent Fasting (IF) \[self-selected diet with 25-75% of estimated baseline energy requirements for 2 days/week (fast day) along with ad libitum for 5 days/week (feed day)\] combined with physical-cognitive exercise \[60-70% of heart rate maximum for aerobic and 60-70% of 1 repetition maximum, 8-12 repetitions/set, 3 sets of each exercise for resistance exercise; memory, attention, and executive function for cognition\], 60 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week for 12 weeks (36 sessions)\].
Intermittent Fasting (IF) \[self-selected diet with 25-75% of estimated baseline energy requirements for 2 days/week (fast day) along with ad libitum for 5 days/week (feed day)\].
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University
Chiang Mai, Thailand
change from baseline time to complete Trail Making B-A at 12 weeks
Time to complete Trail Making B and A will be recorded in seconds. The difference between time to complete Trail B and A will be used to index the task switching ability, a subdomain of executive function. Smaller differences between B-A indicate better switching ability.
Time frame: 12 weeks
change from baseline Stroop Color and Word score at 12 weeks
In Stroop Color and Word test, the number of items correctly identified in 45 seconds in each condition (i.e. word, color, color-word) will be recorded. Then the predicted score will be calculated. Score will be obtained from the different between the color-word and predicted scores. Lower scores indicate greater difficulty in inhibiting interference.
Time frame: 12 weeks
change from baseline Logical Memory score at 12 weeks
In Logical Memory test, participants will be instructed to listen carefully to two stories and remember their contents. After a 30-delay, they will be asked to freely recall the passages (recall) and respond yes or no to the given questions (recognition). The possible scores are 0-75. Higher scores indicate better episodic memory.
Time frame: 12 weeks
change from baseline Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level at 12 weeks
Level of plasma BDNF will be determined before and after the intervention.
Time frame: 12 weeks
change from baseline Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score at 12 weeks
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment will be used to index global cognitive function. The possible scores are 0-30. Higher scores indicate better cognitive function.
Time frame: 12 weeks
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Physical-cognitive exercise \[60-70% of heart rate maximum for aerobic and 60-70% of 1 repetition maximum, 8-12 repetitions/set, 3 sets of each exercise for resistance exercise; memory, attention, and executive function for cognition\], 60 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week for 12 weeks (36 sessions)\].
change from baseline Verbal Fluency score at 12 weeks
Category fluency subtest (naming test) of Verbal Fluency will be used. Participants will be asked to produce as many words as possible in 60 seconds. Higher scores indicate better language ability.
Time frame: 12 weeks
change from baseline Digit Span score at 12 weeks
In Digit Span test, lists of numbers will be presented orally to participants. They are asked to repeat the numbers immediately in ascending (forward) or reverse (backward) numerical order. The possible scores are 0-28. Higher scores indicate better attention.
Time frame: 12 weeks
change from baseline plasma adiponectin levels at 12 weeks
Level of plasma adiponectin will be determined before and after intervention.
Time frame: 12 weeks
change from baseline plasma Interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels at 12 weeks
Level of plasma IL-6 will be determined before and after intervention.
Time frame: 12 weeks
change from baseline insulin resistance levels at 12 weeks
Level of insulin resistance will be assessed using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) index \[fasting glucose (mg/dL) X fasting insulin (µU/mL) / 405\].
Time frame: 12 weeks
change from baseline Six-minute walk distance at 12 weeks
The distance (in meters) participants walked in 6 minutes will be determined. Longer distance indicates better cardiorespiratory fitness.
Time frame: 12 weeks
change from baseline 30 seconds Chair Stand Test at 12 weeks
The number of repetitions participants could perform sit-to-stand will be recorded. Higher number of repetitions indicates greater lower-body strength.
Time frame: 12 weeks