Study Results
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Basic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
45 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2023-01-01
2024-11-01
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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High levels of stress are associated with shorter telomere length, as stressors can disrupt telomere structure through a series of chemical reactions. Consequently, lifestyle changes or interventions that reduce stress levels have been widely explored. The common focus of these studies involves factors that protect telomeres and regulate telomerase activity. This study aims to preserve healthy telomere structure by controlling stress levels.
Stressors change with age, and emotional distress, interpersonal rejection, financial concerns, and feelings of social exclusion in younger individuals are known to elevate stress levels. Additionally, younger individuals' psychological responses to stress tend to be more intense. This can directly affect emotional responses, behavioral coping, emotional regulation, and rumination. Since the core of stress lies in human perception and evaluation of experiences, how an individual interprets, assesses, and responds to these experiences becomes critical in stress management. Therefore, this study adopts an approach that addresses these factors for stress management.
Studies on telomere length changes associated with physical activity and exercise suggest that more active individuals tend to have longer telomeres. However, moderate activity levels have been associated with longer telomeres compared to inactive or excessively active individuals. Woo et al. did not find a difference in telomere length between inactive and active individuals, but their study focused on elderly populations.
Research on stress levels and telomere length has shown that individuals with lower stress levels tend to have longer telomeres. Likewise, meditation practices are reported to regulate psychological mediators by enhancing telomerase activity in immune cells. Blackburn's study found that chronic psychological stress, its perception, and high oxidative stress were associated with shorter telomeres, lower telomerase activity, and cell aging in healthy peripheral mononuclear blood cells.
Studies comparing exercise interventions have indicated that resistance training does not alter telomere length. Since endurance and resistance training did not produce changes in telomere length, alternative exercise approaches were proposed. While some studies suggest that short-term aerobic exercise does not change telomere length, aerobic exercise, both short and long term, is recognized as a significant exercise type that contributes to telomere elongation. Mind-body interventions to preserve telomere structure have been limited, with most research focusing on meditation and yoga. However, promising studies on meditation have been conducted, with one study showing telomere length increase after 12 weeks of meditation training.
Although telomere structure is primarily influenced by age and genetics, factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, lifestyle changes, diet, and chronic inflammatory processes can also affect telomere structure. Based on the existing literature, this study aims to investigate the effects of TBFT (Basic Body Awareness Therapy) and aerobic exercise on high-stress individuals, while controlling for secondary factors as much as possible, to determine the effectiveness of these exercises.
This study aims to track changes in telomere length in high-stress young individuals using standard aerobic exercise and basic body awareness exercises (BBAT).
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
Basic Body Awareness Therapy Group Aerobic Exercise Group Control Group Each group receives a different intervention (body awareness therapy, aerobic exercise, or no intervention for the control group) and is observed over the study period. The study aims to compare the effects of body awareness therapy and aerobic exercise on telomere length in young individuals. The control group serves to assess the natural variation in telomere length without any intervention. This design allows for a clear comparison of the outcomes between the different groups, ensuring that any observed effects can be attributed to the specific intervention each group received.
In summary, each group follows its own intervention pathway independently, and the results from each group are analyzed to understand the impact on telomere length.
OTHER
SINGLE
Study Groups
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Basic Body Awareness Therapy Group
Participants will engage in 12 weeks of Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) three times a week. The exercises will include body scanning, stretching, strength accumulation, sound resonance, and midline orientation, supervised by an experienced physiotherapist. Each session lasts 40 minutes, with 5 minutes of meditation and a group feedback session after every exercise. The group will consist of a maximum of 10 participants.
exercise (Basic Body Awareness Therapy
Body Awareness Therapy is a patient-centered physiotherapy approach that also includes mental health, focusing on movement awareness training. This therapy primarily consists of exercises aimed at improving postural disorders, balance, and muscle tension. It aims to help individuals experience and accept bodily responses while increasing coping strategies.
The therapy includes body scanning, integration of sound and movement, stretching exercises, and exercises focusing on body alignment and midline orientation.
Floor exercises: body scanning, stretching, strength accumulation, sound resonance.
Seated exercises: body alignment, trunk rotation, head and neck movements. Standing exercises: support surface perception, midline elevation and lowering, bilateral arm movements, rotation, one-legged balance, voice exercises, and group movements.
Aerobic Exercise Group
Participants will undergo aerobic exercise on a treadmill, following ACSM guidelines. Exercise duration will start at 30 minutes in the first week and gradually increase to 45 minutes by the 12th week. The exercise intensity will be monitored using the target heart rate method (64-77% HRmax) and will be supervised by a physician. Heart rate monitoring will be done during the exercises, and participants will be asked to maintain their usual diet.
exercise (aerobic exercise)
The continuous exercise protocol specified by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) will be applied under supervision on a treadmill. The exercise duration will follow ACSM recommendations, starting at 30 minutes in the first week and increasing to 45 minutes by the 12th week.
Exercise intensity will be assessed using the target heart rate method (220 - age). The intensity of aerobic exercise will be set at a moderate level (64-77% HRmax), according to ACSM guidelines.
During exercise, heart rate will be monitored through a heart rate monitoring device. A 5-minute warm-up and a 5-minute cool-down exercise will be performed before and after each session, with an intensity of 50-60% of the maximum heart rate.
Control Group
No intervention or recommendations will be provided to the control group.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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exercise (Basic Body Awareness Therapy
Body Awareness Therapy is a patient-centered physiotherapy approach that also includes mental health, focusing on movement awareness training. This therapy primarily consists of exercises aimed at improving postural disorders, balance, and muscle tension. It aims to help individuals experience and accept bodily responses while increasing coping strategies.
The therapy includes body scanning, integration of sound and movement, stretching exercises, and exercises focusing on body alignment and midline orientation.
Floor exercises: body scanning, stretching, strength accumulation, sound resonance.
Seated exercises: body alignment, trunk rotation, head and neck movements. Standing exercises: support surface perception, midline elevation and lowering, bilateral arm movements, rotation, one-legged balance, voice exercises, and group movements.
exercise (aerobic exercise)
The continuous exercise protocol specified by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) will be applied under supervision on a treadmill. The exercise duration will follow ACSM recommendations, starting at 30 minutes in the first week and increasing to 45 minutes by the 12th week.
Exercise intensity will be assessed using the target heart rate method (220 - age). The intensity of aerobic exercise will be set at a moderate level (64-77% HRmax), according to ACSM guidelines.
During exercise, heart rate will be monitored through a heart rate monitoring device. A 5-minute warm-up and a 5-minute cool-down exercise will be performed before and after each session, with an intensity of 50-60% of the maximum heart rate.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Not be obese (BMI \< 25 kg/m²),
* Not have a history of regular exercise or long-term exercise participation,
* Not have a history of smoking or alcohol use,
* Not have received hormone replacement therapy,
* Not be using antioxidant or multivitamin supplements,
* Not have a diagnosed acute or chronic inflammatory disease or any rheumatic condition,
* Be willing to participate in the study voluntarily
Exclusion Criteria
* Having communication barriers,
* Having a history of smoking or alcohol use,
* Having a history of regular exercise,
* Having variable general nutrition habits,
* Having any other diseases related to the circulatory system, orthopedic, neurological, cardiac, and respiratory functions, such as diabetes, cholesterol, or heart failure,
* Being enrolled in another exercise program during the 12-week period within the assigned exercise group.
18 Years
30 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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Suleyman Demirel University
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Mert Usta, RA
Research Asistant
Principal Investigators
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Mert Usta, RA
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
https://w3.sdu.edu.tr/personel/06713
Locations
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Süleyman Demirel University
Isparta, , Turkey (Türkiye)
Countries
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References
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Tosato M, Zamboni V, Ferrini A, Cesari M. The aging process and potential interventions to extend life expectancy. Clin Interv Aging. 2007;2(3):401-12.
Kanherkar RR, Stair SE, Bhatia-Dey N, Mills PJ, Chopra D, Csoka AB. Epigenetic Mechanisms of Integrative Medicine. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:4365429. doi: 10.1155/2017/4365429. Epub 2017 Feb 21.
Jacobs TL, Epel ES, Lin J, Blackburn EH, Wolkowitz OM, Bridwell DA, Zanesco AP, Aichele SR, Sahdra BK, MacLean KA, King BG, Shaver PR, Rosenberg EL, Ferrer E, Wallace BA, Saron CD. Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2011 Jun;36(5):664-81. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.09.010. Epub 2010 Oct 29.
Scarabino D, Peconi M, Broggio E, Gambina G, Maggi E, Armeli F, Mantuano E, Morello M, Corbo RM, Businaro R. Relationship between proinflammatory cytokines (Il-1beta, Il-18) and leukocyte telomere length in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Exp Gerontol. 2020 Jul 15;136:110945. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2020.110945. Epub 2020 Apr 11.
Cherkas LF, Hunkin JL, Kato BS, Richards JB, Gardner JP, Surdulescu GL, Kimura M, Lu X, Spector TD, Aviv A. The association between physical activity in leisure time and leukocyte telomere length. Arch Intern Med. 2008 Jan 28;168(2):154-8. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2007.39.
Ludlow AT, Zimmerman JB, Witkowski S, Hearn JW, Hatfield BD, Roth SM. Relationship between physical activity level, telomere length, and telomerase activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008 Oct;40(10):1764-71. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e31817c92aa.
Woo J, Tang N, Leung J. No association between physical activity and telomere length in an elderly Chinese population 65 years and older. Arch Intern Med. 2008 Oct 27;168(19):2163-4. doi: 10.1001/archinte.168.19.2163. No abstract available.
Puterman E, Lin J, Blackburn E, O'Donovan A, Adler N, Epel E. The power of exercise: buffering the effect of chronic stress on telomere length. PLoS One. 2010 May 26;5(5):e10837. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010837.
O'Donovan A, Tomiyama AJ, Lin J, Puterman E, Adler NE, Kemeny M, Wolkowitz OM, Blackburn EH, Epel ES. Stress appraisals and cellular aging: a key role for anticipatory threat in the relationship between psychological stress and telomere length. Brain Behav Immun. 2012 May;26(4):573-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2012.01.007. Epub 2012 Jan 24.
Werner CM, Hecksteden A, Morsch A, Zundler J, Wegmann M, Kratzsch J, Thiery J, Hohl M, Bittenbring JT, Neumann F, Bohm M, Meyer T, Laufs U. Differential effects of endurance, interval, and resistance training on telomerase activity and telomere length in a randomized, controlled study. Eur Heart J. 2019 Jan 1;40(1):34-46. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehy585.
Ribeiro VB, Pedroso DCC, Kogure GS, Lopes IP, Santana BA, Dutra de Souza HC, Ferriani RA, Calado RT, Furtado CLM, Reis RMD. Short-Term Aerobic Exercise Did Not Change Telomere Length While It Reduced Testosterone Levels and Obesity Indexes in PCOS: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Oct 27;18(21):11274. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182111274.
Innes KE, Selfe TK, Brundage K, Montgomery C, Wen S, Kandati S, Bowles H, Khalsa DS, Huysmans Z. Effects of Meditation and Music-Listening on Blood Biomarkers of Cellular Aging and Alzheimer's Disease in Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline: An Exploratory Randomized Clinical Trial. J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;66(3):947-970. doi: 10.3233/JAD-180164.
Song S, Lee E, Kim H. Does Exercise Affect Telomere Length? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Medicina (Kaunas). 2022 Feb 5;58(2):242. doi: 10.3390/medicina58020242.
Other Identifiers
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BBAT
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id