Successful Aging and Age-related Decline

N/AActive Not RecruitingNCT06376656

Sunway University400 enrolled

Overview

Recent studies have shown promising cognitive and physical interventions aimed at slowing down ageing-related declines in quality of life, but they lack strong ecological validity (brief durations, unrealistic goals, no real-world application) and has yet to show robust evidence that such interventions are stable and suitable in the long-term. The investigators aim to examine whether these interventions can, over four years, significantly slow down the normal rate of ageing-related decline.

This is a longitudinal, controlled, cohort study. The overarching aim in this intervention study is three-fold: (1) to test hypotheses derived from ageing-related theories, (2) to provide robust measurable evidence both in the long-term and validate meaningful interventions, and (3) provide quantifiable cost-benefit ratio to suggested solutions. A cohort of Malaysian older adults will be recruited and assigned to one of the groups, either cognitive stimulation, physical activity, combined cognitive stimulation and physical activity, or non-intervention control.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

400

Conditions

Aging Elderly Cognitive Decline

Interventions

Cognitive stimulationBEHAVIORAL

The cognitive stimulation will comprise of psychoeducation, videogaming, book club and technology training workshop sessions. Participants will take part in weekly sessions that are an hour long each. For every six months, the participants will alternate between psychoeducation, videogaming, book club and technology training workshop sessions.

Physical activityBEHAVIORAL

The physical activity intervention will comprise of walking, Zumba, resistance exercise and aerobics sessions. Participants will take part in weekly sessions that are an hour long each. For every six months, the participants will alternate between walking, Zumba, resistance exercise and aerobics sessions until the end of intervention period.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 60 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Malaysian older adults aged 60 and above who fulfil the following criteria will be recruited: Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy and this includes those seeking regular medical attention, * Have some form of mobility (ability to walk short distances at least 3m), * Able to communicate in at least one of the following languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil. Exclusion Criteria: * Older adults with a history of stroke, * Diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's) or psychiatric disorders, * Uncorrected auditory and/or visual impairments, * Currently on psychiatric medications, * Immobile, * Require full-time caregiver assistance, * With comprehension impediments from the assessment portion of this project, * A Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score of \<13.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Changes in cognitive scores

Changes in cognitive scores will be evaluated using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Possible scores range from 0-30. Higher scores indicate less cognitive impairment.

Time frame: 4 years

Changes in electroencephalogram (EEG)

Onset of neural responses to errors in the Go/No Go task will be evaluated using EEG.

Time frame: 4 years

Changes in structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Relationship between Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance and grey matter volume will be evaluated using structural MRI.

Time frame: 4 years

Cost-benefit analysis of intervention

The economic benefits from the interventions will be evaluated and will cover three aspects: financial, productivity and health.

Time frame: 4 years

Changes in levels of human salivary lactoferrin

Changes in levels of human salivary lactoferrin (ng/mL) will be measured using salivary Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits. Low levels of lactoferrin can potentially indicate higher risk for cognitive impairment.

Time frame: 4 years

Changes in levels of human salivary C-reactive proteins

Changes in levels of human salivary C-reactive proteins (CRP, mg/L) will be measured using salivary Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits. High levels of CRP can indicate inflammation and its association with greater cognitive decline.

Time frame: 4 years

Changes in salivary telomere length

Changes in salivary telomere length (T/S ratio) will be measured using quantitative PCR. A higher T/S ratio indicates better preservation of telomere length hence better preservation of cognition.

Time frame: 4 years

Secondary Outcomes

Changes in depression scores

Changes in depression scores will be measured using part of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Possible scores range from 0-42. Higher scores indicating greater frequency of depressive experiences.

Time frame: 4 years

Changes in anxiety scores

Changes in anxiety scores will be measured using part of the Form Y of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Possible scores range from 6-24. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety.

Time frame: 4 years

Changes in body composition

Changes in body composition will be measured using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), including parameters such as body fat percentage, muscle mass and visceral fat composition.