Geriatric depression (GD) is associated with cognitive impairment and brain atrophy. Tai-Chi-Chih (TCC) is a promising adjunct treatment to antidepressants. We previously found beneficial effects of TCC on resting state connectivity in GD. We now tested the effect of TCC on gray matter volume (GMV) change and the association between baseline GMV and clinical outcome.

Forty-nine participants with GD (>=60 y) underwent antidepressant treatment (38 women).

Participants completed 3 months of TCC (N = 26) or health and wellness education control (HEW; N = 23).

Depression and anxiety symptoms and MRI scans were acquired at baseline and 3-month follow-up. General linear models (GLMs) tested group-by-time interactions on clinical scores. Freesurfer 6.0 was used to process T1-weighted images and to perform voxel-wise whole-brain GLMs of group on symmetrized percent GMV change, and on the baseline GMV and symptom change association, controlling for baseline symptom severity. Age and sex served as covariates in all models.

There were no group differences in baseline demographics or clinical scores, symptom change from baseline to follow-up, or treatment-related GMV change. However, whole-brain analysis revealed that lower baseline GMV in several clusters in the TCC, but not the HEW group, was associated with larger improvements in anxiety. This was similar for right precuneus GMV and depressive symptoms.

While we observed no effect on GMV due to the interventions, baseline regional GMV predicted symptom improvements with TCC but not HEW. Longer trials are needed to investigate the long-term effects of TCC on clinical symptoms and neuroplasticity.

Greater than 40% of women are obese, a key risk factor for cardiometabolic, neurocognitive disease, mood disorders, and certain cancers. Obesity and unfavorable body composition can compromise physical and psychological health and well-being. Preliminary evidence demonstrates Meditative Movement (i.e., Tai Chi Easy) improves health outcomes and body composition among midlife/older women. This single-group pilot study explored relationships between well-being predictors related to body composition and associated behavioral risk factors in midlife/older women pre-to-post Tai Chi Easy intervention.

Eligible women 45–75 years old, participated in once-weekly 30-minute Tai Chi Easy classes over 8-weeks. Pre/post-intervention data included self-report surveys and on-site body composition. Multivariate linear regression models were fitted with putative predictor variables having correlations p-values of 0.20 or less with sleep quality and eating behaviors.

Participants (N = 36) (M age = 53.7) were White (80.4%) and attended ≥ 4 years of college (70.6%). Analyses resulted in one independent variable per model as a predictor of the dependent variables of sleep quality and emotional eating. Results indicated: (1) stress explained 13.4% sleep quality variance (F (2, 20) = 2.71, p = 0.09) and (2) self-compassion explained 42.1% emotional eating variance (F (2, 31) = 12.54, p < .01).

Findings suggest stress and self-compassion partially explain variance in the dependent variables of sleep quality and emotional eating, both associated behavioral risk factors of body composition. Additional research may guide interventions to test efficacy and examine mediators to improve well-being predictors, body composition, and associated behavioral risk factors among midlife/older women.

Adherence plays a vital role in the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions. The disappearance of interventions’ effects at follow-up was caused by inadequate self-practice beyond intervention period. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors associated with adherence to aerobic exercise and Tai Chi and the impact of adherence on the short- and long-term effectiveness in improving sleep in patients with advanced lung cancer.

This study analyzed data collected in a clinical trial that evaluated the effects of aerobic exercise and Tai Chi in patients with advanced lung cancer. Two types of exercises were maintained at the same intensity but with different dosage. A total of 99 patients with advanced lung cancer who were recruited between 2018 and 2020 were included. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires.

Fifty participants were randomly assigned to aerobic exercise and 49 to Tai Chi intervention. Higher levels of satisfaction and lower levels of depression were significantly associated with higher attendance and compliance in both groups. Low fatigue levels contributed to higher attendance in Tai Chi. Both attendance and compliance were significantly associated with long-term sleep improvement.

Higher levels of satisfaction and lower levels of depression were important characteristics of attendance and compliance with home-based practice in both groups, whereas lower levels of fatigue uniquely contributed to higher attendance in Tai Chi. Better exercise adherence improves long-term effectiveness of sleep in patients with advanced lung cancer. Adopting strategies is imperative to promote exercise adherence in patients with greater levels of depression and fatigue.