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Yoga: Effect on Attention in Aging & Multiple Sclerosis

This study has been completed.

Sponsored by: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Information provided by: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00010998
  Purpose

Changes in visual attention are common among elders and people with multiple sclerosis. The visual attention changes contribute to difficulty with day to day functioning including falls, driving and even finding one's keys on the kitchen counter as well as contributing to deficits in other cognitive domains. Yoga emphasizes the ability to focus attention and there is some evidence that the practice of yoga may improve one's cognitive abilities. Additionally, yoga practice may improve cognitive function through other non-specific means such as improved mood, decreased stress or declines in oxidative injury. We propose a randomized, controlled 6 month phase II trial of yoga in two separate cohorts: healthy elders and subjects with mild multiple sclerosis. We will determine if yoga intervention produces improvements on a broad attentional battery that especially emphasizes attentional control. To further understand the reported beneficial effect of yoga on its practitioners, we will also determine if there is a positive impact on measures directly related to yoga practice (flexibility and balance) as well as mood, quality of life and oxidative injury markers. The yoga intervention consists of a Hatha yoga class meeting twice per week. The class is taught by experienced yoga teachers who are supervised by a nationally known yoga instructor. There are two control groups. An exercise group will have a structured walking program prescribed by a certified Health and Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer. The program will attempt to match the Hatha yoga class for metabolic demand. The second control group will be assigned to a 6 month waiting list. The outcome measures are assessed at baseline and after the 6 month period. The primary outcome measures are alertness (quantitative EEG and self-rated scale), ability to focus attention (Stroop) and ability to shift attention (extradimensional set shifting task). Secondary attention outcome measures include the ability to sustain attention (decrement in reaction time) and ability to divide attention (Useful Field of View). Other secondary outcome measures include flexibility, balance, mood, quality of life, fatigue (in MS cohort) and decreased markers of lipid, protein, and DNA oxidative injury.


Condition Intervention Phase
Multiple Sclerosis
Procedure: Yoga
Phase II

MedlinePlus related topics:   Multiple Sclerosis  

U.S. FDA Resources

Study Type:   Interventional
Study Design:   Treatment
Official Title:   Yoga: Effect on Attention in Aging & Multiple Sclerosis

Further study details as provided by National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM):

Study Start Date:   September 1999
Estimated Study Completion Date:   December 2004

  Eligibility
Ages Eligible for Study:   65 Years to 85 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with MS who are mildly impaired with an expanded disability status scale of 0-4.0
  • Healthy volunteers
  Contacts and Locations

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00010998

Locations
United States, Oregon
Oregon Health Sciences University/Neurology    
      Portland, Oregon, United States, 97201

Sponsors and Collaborators

Investigators
Principal Investigator:     Dr. Barry S. Oken     Oregon Health and Science University    
  More Information

Study ID Numbers:   P50 AT000066-01P3, P50 AT000066-01
First Received:   February 2, 2001
Last Updated:   August 17, 2006
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:   NCT00010998
Health Authority:   United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM):
Multiple Sclerosis  
Yoga  

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Signs and Symptoms
Pathologic Processes
Autoimmune Diseases
Multiple Sclerosis
Demyelinating Diseases
Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS
Demyelinating diseases
Sclerosis
Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Immune System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 15, 2008