Mindful Walking for Cognitive Health

Overseen By Laura Phillips, B.S.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of South Carolina

Disqualifiers: ADRD, Strokes, Epilepsy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 36

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether mindful walking can help maintain cognitive health in African American older adults at risk of neuropsychological diseases. Participants will join a 24-session outdoor walking program designed to be mindful and reflective. The study will compare those who start immediately with those who begin later to assess any long-term benefits. It suits African American adults aged 60 and older who experience mild memory issues and engage in little daily physical activity. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance cognitive health strategies for the community.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It mentions that participants should be medically stable with or without medication, so it seems likely you can continue your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the mindful walking program is safe for cognitive health?

Previous studies have shown that participants have accepted and valued mindful walking, with no significant safety concerns reported. People generally find it easy to do without major problems. Research indicates that mindful walking can improve mood, sleep quality, and mindfulness across various groups. These findings suggest that mindful walking is safe for most people, including older adults who want to support brain health. Therefore, evidence shows it is a safe and beneficial option for those considering trying it. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Mindful Walking Program because it approaches cognitive health in a novel way by combining physical activity with mindfulness techniques. Unlike traditional cognitive health treatments that might focus on medications or cognitive exercises, this program emphasizes outdoor mindful walking, offering a holistic approach that could improve mental clarity and reduce stress simultaneously. The program's integration of mindfulness within a physical activity is unique and may provide dual benefits for both mental and physical well-being.

What evidence suggests that mindful walking might be an effective treatment for cognitive health?

Research has shown that mindful walking may support brain health, particularly for older adults at risk of memory and thinking problems. In this trial, participants in the "Mindful walking" group will complete a 24-session outdoor mindful walking intervention over three months. Studies have found that mindful walking can improve thinking skills. For example, one study found that older adults who practiced mindful walking had better brain function. Participants also reported improved mindfulness, sleep quality, and mood. These early findings suggest that mindful walking could be a helpful way to maintain brain health. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Chih-Hsiang "Jason" Yang, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of South Carolina

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for African American individuals aged 60 and above who are medically stable, have mild cognitive decline or MCI, are not very active physically, can see and hear well enough to do study tasks, speak English, can consent to participate, and are willing to be randomly assigned to one of two groups. It's not for those with certain brain conditions like strokes or epilepsy, severe psychiatric disorders, those who can't walk without help, or anyone planning major life changes soon.

Inclusion Criteria

You are not regularly engaging in physical activity, falling short of the recommended standards for healthy living.

You possess a proficient command of English.

I experience mild memory loss or thinking problems.

Exclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder like depression or PTSD.

I need help from someone else to walk.

I do not plan to have surgery or move in the next 6 months.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a 24-session outdoor mindful walking intervention over 3 months

12 weeks

24 sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for cognitive function and other health outcomes at multiple follow-up periods

12 weeks

Assessments at 12, 18, and 24 weeks

Delayed Treatment

Participants in the delayed group have the option to complete a 24-session mindful walking intervention

12 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Mindful Walking Program

Trial Overview

The study is testing whether a program of mindful walking helps maintain the thinking abilities of older African Americans at risk for brain health issues. Participants will either start the walking program right away or after a delay. The researchers want to see if there's any difference in mental function between these two groups over time.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Mindful walking Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Complete a 24-session outdoor mindful walking intervention over 3 months

Group II: Delayed mindful walking group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Option to complete a delayed 24-session mindful walking

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of South Carolina

Lead Sponsor

Trials

233

Recruited

122,000+

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Collaborator

Trials

902

Recruited

25,020,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 74 participants with high psychological distress, those who engaged in an 8-session mindful walking program experienced a significant reduction in perceived stress levels compared to a control group that received no intervention.

The intervention group showed an average decrease of 8.8 points on the Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale after 4 weeks, indicating that mindful walking can effectively lower stress and improve quality of life.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindful walking in psychologically distressed individuals: a randomized controlled trial. Teut, M., Roesner, EJ., Ortiz, M., et al.[2021]

A mindfulness program delivered over 9 weeks significantly reduced glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels by 16.4% in older adults with type 2 diabetes relocating to long-term care facilities, indicating improved glycemic control.

The program also showed significant improvements in relocation stress and depression compared to the control group, suggesting that mindfulness can enhance overall well-being during the transition to long-term care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of a mindfulness programme for long-term care residents with type 2 diabetes: A cluster randomised controlled trial measuring outcomes of glycaemic control, relocation stress and depression. Chen, SM., Lin, HS., Atherton, JJ., et al.[2022]

A 4-week mindful walking intervention significantly reduced perceived stress among participants compared to a control group, indicating its potential as a short-term mental health strategy.

While both groups improved their physical activity levels, there were no significant differences in step counts or overall physical activity between the mindful walking group and the control group, suggesting that the intervention's impact on physical activity may be limited.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot study of mindful walking training on physical activity and health outcomes among adults with inadequate activity. Shi, L., Welsh, RS., Lopes, S., et al.[2019]

A 12-week enjoyable walking-habituation program for 71 older adults led to significant improvements in cognitive functions such as executive function and subjective memory complaints, as well as physical improvements like increased daily steps and walking speed.

At a 6-month follow-up, 82.5% of participants continued to walk regularly, indicating the program's effectiveness in promoting long-term physical activity and overall satisfaction among participants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prevention of cognitive and physical decline by enjoyable walking-habituation program based on brain-activating rehabilitation. Murai, T., Yamaguchi, T., Maki, Y., et al.[2022]

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are generally well-accepted and show medium to large positive effects on psychosocial outcomes for patients with dementia and mild cognitive impairment, while effects on cognitive functioning are smaller.

Caregivers of patients with dementia also benefit from MBIs, experiencing significant reductions in stress and improvements in quality of life, although the overall confidence in these findings is limited due to methodological inconsistencies across the studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Systematic Review of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia and Caregivers. Shim, M., Tilley, JL., Im, S., et al.[2021]

The Mindful Steps intervention, which combines mind-body techniques with self-regulatory components, positively influenced walking behaviors in individuals with COPD and heart failure, as reported by participants in qualitative interviews.

Participants found components like pedometer feedback and group classes helpful, and many continued to use the strategies learned, indicating potential long-term benefits for physical and mental health, although some noted limited impact on their walking or health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Web-Based Mind-Body Intervention (Mindful Steps) for Promoting Walking in Chronic Cardiopulmonary Disease: Insights From a Qualitative Study. Kraemer, KM., Kilgore, K., Litrownik, D., et al.[2023]

A 1-month mindful walking program involving 29 community-dwelling older adults showed promising results in reducing negative affect, indicating potential mental health benefits.

Participants found the mindful walking program to be highly acceptable and valuable, suggesting it could be a sustainable intervention for improving well-being in older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of an Outdoor Mindful Walking Program for Reducing Negative Affect in Older Adults. Yang, CH., Conroy, DE.[2019]

A one-month mindful walking program involving 25 older adults showed short-term improvements in perceived cognition and processing speed after each session, with effect sizes ranging from 0.46 to 0.66.

Longer-term benefits were observed in processing speed and executive function after the full program, with effect sizes between 0.43 and 1.28, suggesting that integrating mindfulness with light walking may help sustain cognitive function in older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindful walking and cognition in older adults: A proof of concept study using in-lab and ambulatory cognitive measures. Yang, CH., Hakun, JG., Roque, N., et al.[2022]

The multifaceted walking intervention (MWI) was highly feasible and acceptable, with 86% recruitment and 94% adherence rates among 25 long-term care residents with dementia over a 4-month period.

Participants showed significant improvements in functional mobility and quality of life, including faster Timed Up-and-Go times and increased distances in the Two-Minute Walk Test, indicating that person-centered physical activity can effectively support residents with dementia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Feasibility Study of a Multifaceted Walking Intervention to Maintain the Functional Mobility, Activities of Daily Living, and Quality of Life of Nursing Home Residents With Dementia. Chu, CH., Puts, M., Brooks, D., et al.[2021]

The study involved 55 elderly participants with mild cognitive impairment, who were divided into two groups: one practicing mindfulness (Mindfulness Awareness Program) and the other receiving health education (Health Education Program) over nine months.

Both groups showed reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms, indicating that both mindfulness and health education can positively impact emotional well-being in elderly individuals, although no significant changes in cognitive function were observed.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of mindfulness and health education programs on the emotional state and cognitive function of elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial. Klainin-Yobas, P., Kowitlawakul, Y., Lopez, V., et al.[2019]

A 12-week Tai Chi program for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia was found to be feasible and well-accepted, with an impressive attendance rate of 87% and no reported adverse events.

Participants with MCI showed significant improvements in grip strength and health-related quality of life, while both MCI and dementia groups improved their mobility as measured by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, indicating that Tai Chi can enhance physical functioning in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of 12-week Tai Chi program on physical function, depression, and quality of life among cognitively impaired older adults: a feasibility study. Oh, H., Song, R., Kim, SJ.[2023]

Citations

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This study is a community-based, mindful walking randomized controlled trial to examine its efficacy on cognitive and other health outcomes in ADRD at-risk, AA ...

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This study will generate evidence regarding the efficacy of mindful walking on sustaining cognitive health in vulnerable older adults.

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This early-phase study (Phase IIa) provides preliminary support that mindful walking activity is promising for sustaining cognition in older adults.

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Findings suggest that both groups resulted in significant improvements in participants' trait mindfulness, sleep quality and mood after the intervention.

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Mindful Walking for Cognitive Health

Mindful walking has been well-accepted and valued in various studies, with no significant safety concerns reported. Participants across different age groups and ...

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Effectiveness of a mindful nature walking intervention on ...

One-week consecutive mindful walking effectively improves university students' mood, sleep quality, and mindfulness regardless of environment.