Mitigating cellular inflammation in older adults: a randomized controlled trial of Tai Chi Chih.
Title | Mitigating cellular inflammation in older adults: a randomized controlled trial of Tai Chi Chih. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2012 |
Authors | Irwin MR, Olmstead R |
Journal | Am J Geriatr Psychiatry |
Volume | 20 |
Issue | 9 |
Pagination | 764-72 |
Date Published | 2012 Sep |
ISSN | 1545-7214 |
Keywords | Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers, C-Reactive Protein, Depression, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein, Interleukin-18, Interleukin-6, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Activity, Patient Compliance, Receptors, Interleukin-6, Sleep, Tai Ji |
Abstract | OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of a behavioral intervention, Tai Chi Chih (TCC) on circulating markers of inflammation in older adults. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial with allocation to two arms, TCC and health education (HE), 16 weeks of intervention administration, and 9 weeks follow-up. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 83 healthy older adults, aged 59 to 86 years. MEASUREMENTS: The primary endpoint was circulating levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6). Secondary outcomes were circulating levels of C-reactive protein, soluble IL-1 receptor antagonist, soluble IL-6 receptor, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule, and IL-18. Severity of depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and physical activity was also assessed over the treatment trial. RESULTS: Among those older adults with high levels of IL-6 at entry, a trend for a treatment group by time interaction was found (F[1,70] = 3.48, p = 0.07), in which TCC produced a drop of IL-6 levels comparable to those found in TCC and HE subgroups who had low levels of IL-6 at entry (t72's = 0.80, 1.63, p's >0.10), whereas IL-6 in HE remained higher than the TCC and HE subgroups with low entry IL-6 (t72 = 2.47, p = 0.02; t72 = 1.71, p = 0.09). Decreases in depressive symptoms in the two treatment groups correlated with decreases of IL-6 (r = 0.28, p <0.05). None of the other cellular markers of inflammation changed in TCC versus HE. CONCLUSION: TCC can be considered a useful behavioral intervention to reduce circulating levels of IL-6 in older adults who show elevated levels of this inflammatory marker and are at risk for inflammation-related morbidity. |
DOI | 10.1097/JGP.0b013e3182330fd3 |
Alternate Journal | Am J Geriatr Psychiatry |
PubMed ID | 21934474 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3247625 |
Grant List | M01 RR000865-36 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States M01-RR00865 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States P30 AG028748 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P30 AG028748-07 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P30-AG028748 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG018367 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG018367-05 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG026364 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG026364-05 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG026364-06 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG034588 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG034588-04 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 CA119159 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States R01 CA119159-05 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States R01 HL 079955 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01 HL079955 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01 HL079955-04 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01-AG 026364 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01-AG 034588 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01-AG 18367 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01-CA 10014152 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States R21 AT000255 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States R21 AT000255-02 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States R21-AT00255 / AT / NCCIH NIH HHS / United States T32 MH019925 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States T32 MH019925-15 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States T32-MH18399 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States UL1 TR000124 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States |