Physical Activity and Cognitive Function among Community-Dwelling Elderly Adults---The Transtheoretical Model

  • Huang, Tzu-Ting (PI)

Project: National Science and Technology CouncilNational Science and Technology Council Academic Grants

Project Details

Abstract

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a common clinical syndrome that identifies people at high risk of developing dementia, and the prevalence range from 7.7 to 51.7%. Although treatments for MCI are currently unavailable, preliminary evidence has identified potential neuro-protective effects of physical activity (PA), which may lead to improved outcomes. However, the design and delivery of an appropriate PA programme for people with MCI is challenging for having physical, psychological, cognitive, and social barriers. Exercise researchers have recommended the use of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) which includes strategies to assist individuals in making transitions across the various stages of change (SOC) in exercise behavior. This project is proposed to be a three-year project. The purposes of this project are to identify the process of change, decisional balance and self-efficacy corresponding to the stage of exercise behavior and related factors using Transtheoretical Model (TTM) in community- dwelling elders. Also, to develop and validate of the PA stage-matched intervention (SMI) for MCI patients in community; and test the PA programs to diminish the cognitive decline among community-dwelling elderly adults with MCI in Taiwan. At the 1 st year, a random sample of 263 community-dwelling elderly in northern Taiwan will be invited to participate this study using survey for exploring the process of change, decisional balance and self-efficacy of carrying out the PA and related factors. At the 2 nd to 3 rd year, we will develop a PA SMI base on searching the literature, the results of 1 st year study and consultation of experts, then, 60 elderly adults with MCI will be recruited in to a 2-group pretest-posttest randomized controlled trial for 6 months and two follow-ups (12 & 18 months) to examine its effectiveness among community-dwelling elderly with MCI. The prevalence rate of the PA level, SOC, decision balance (DB), and self-efficacy (SE) will be expressed by number and percentage. The step wise multiple/ logistic regression will be used to determine which independent variables affect the dependent variables (SOC, DB and SE) among elderly. ANOVA, andχ2 statistics were used to test for differences of dependent variables among the different of functional level (physical, cognitive, and depression) groups. χ2 and t test will be used to test for differences between two groups; to address the effect of the intervention, the data will be analyzed using a mixed model (intend to treat). The results of this study can help health care providers in Taiwan to identify the PA level, SOC, DB and Self-efficacy of community-dwelling elderly, and individualize their interventions to the specific needs' of the elderly, thus helping to prevent from cognitive decline among community-dwelling elderly with MCI.

Project IDs

Project ID:PC10308-1854
External Project ID:MOST103-2314-B182-059
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date01/08/1431/07/15

Keywords

  • Elderly adult
  • MCI
  • Physical activity
  • TTM
  • intervention

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