The Effect of Duration and Frequency of Walking Exercise on Cognitive Functions

NCT ID: NCT07119684

Last Updated: 2025-08-13

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 35 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2024-02-16

Brief Summary

Physical activity is very important for staying healthy and improving how well our brain works. Walking is a simple and easy way to exercise that can help people of all ages feel better physically and mentally. It's affordable, easy to do, and doesn't require special equipment. Walking can improve memory, thinking speed, and problem-solving skills, which are important for everyday life.

This study looks at whether doing shorter walks more often (like three 10-minute walks a day) is as good for the brain as doing one longer walk (one 30-minute walk a day). This is important because many people find it hard to fit long exercise sessions into their day due to busy schedules, health issues, or personal preferences.

By understanding which way of walking helps the brain the most, doctors and patients can choose exercise plans that are easier to stick to and still improve thinking skills. This study will compare these two walking routines over 6 weeks to see how they affect brain health.

This clinical trial investigates the cognitive effects of two different walking exercise protocols over a 6-week period. Participants will either complete three daily 10-minute walking sessions or a single continuous 30-minute walking session. The study aims to determine whether shorter, more frequent exercise sessions provide cognitive benefits comparable to a longer, single session. Outcomes will focus on improvements in memory, processing speed, and executive function. Findings will inform recommendations for accessible and flexible exercise programs to enhance cognitive health.

Conditions

Cognitive Function and Well-Being; Healthy Participants; Walking

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Short-Duration Walking Group

Participants walked 3 sessions of 10 minutes per day, five days a week for 6 weeks, at 60% of their maximum heart rate.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Short-Duration Walking Exercise

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

articipants performed three 10-minute walking sessions per day, 5 days per week for 6 weeks, at 60% of their maximum heart rate on a treadmill.

Long-Duration Walking Group

Participants walked 1 continuous 30-minute session per day, five days a week for 6 weeks, at 60% of their maximum heart rate.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Long-Duration Walking Exercise

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants performed one continuous 30-minute walking session per day, 5 days per week for 6 weeks, at 60% of their maximum heart rate on a treadmill.

Interventions

Short-Duration Walking Exercise

articipants performed three 10-minute walking sessions per day, 5 days per week for 6 weeks, at 60% of their maximum heart rate on a treadmill.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Long-Duration Walking Exercise

Participants performed one continuous 30-minute walking session per day, 5 days per week for 6 weeks, at 60% of their maximum heart rate on a treadmill.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Female

Aged between 18 and 25 years

Sedentary lifestyle, defined as taking <5000 steps/day in the previous week

Non-smoker

Having a work or school schedule that allows consistent participation in the 6-week walking program

Able to walk on a treadmill

Provided written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m²

Participation in another regular exercise program during the study period

Neurological conditions (e.g., stroke, epilepsy)

Severe cardiovascular conditions (e.g., heart failure, arrhythmias)

Any physical limitation that prevents safe walking on a treadmill

Pregnancy

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Gazi University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Zeynep Tuna

associate professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Gazi University

Ankara, Cankaya, Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Other Identifiers

cognitiveshamelGazi

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id