Learning to play golf for elderly people with subjective memory complaints: feasibility of a single‐blinded randomized pilot trial

Abstract

Background Subjective Memory Complaints (SMC) in elderly people due to preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease may be associated with dysregulation of the Kynurenine Pathway (KP), with an increase in neurotoxic metabolites that affect cognition. Golf is a challenging sport with high demands on motor, sensory, and cognitive abilities, which might bear the potential to attenuate the pathological changes of preclinical AD. This trial investigated the feasibility of learning to play golf for elderly with cognitive problems and its effects on cognitive functions and the KP. Methods In a 22-week single-blinded randomized controlled trial, elderly people with SMC were allocated to the golf (n = 25, 180 min training/week) or control group (n = 21). Primary outcomes were feasibility (golf exam, adherence, adverse events) and general cognitive function (Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale). Secondary outcomes include specific cognitive functions (Response Inhibition, Corsi Block Tapping Test, Trail Making Test), KP metabolites and physical performance (6-Minute-Walk-Test). Baseline-adjusted Analysis-of-Covariance was conducted for each outcome. Results 42 participants were analyzed. All participants that underwent the golf exam after the intervention passed it (20/23). Attendance rate of the golf intervention was 75 %. No adverse events or drop-outs related to the intervention occurred. A significant time*group interaction (p = 0.012, F = 7.050, Cohen’s d = 0.89) was found for correct responses on the Response Inhibition task, but not for ADAS-Cog. Moreover, a significant time*group interaction for Quinolinic acid to Tryptophan ratios (p = 0.022, F = 5.769, Cohen’s d = 0.84) in favor of the golf group was observed. An uncorrected negative correlation between attendance rate and delta Quinolinic acid to Kynurenic acid ratios in the golf group (p = 0.039, r=-0.443) was found as well. Conclusions The findings indicate that learning golf is feasible and safe for elderly people with cognitive problems. Preliminary results suggest positive effects on attention and the KP. To explore the whole potential of golfing and its effect on cognitive decline, a larger cohort should be studied over a longer period with higher cardiovascular demands. Trial registration The trial was retrospectively registered (2nd July 2018) at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00014921).

Source connectivity patterns in the default mode network differ between elderly golf-novices and non-golfers

“…Learning to play golf mainly consists of performing different swings (full swing, pitch, chip, put) and golf-specific rules. In a recently published 22-week randomized trial, a significant effect of learning to play golf on attention performance was found in elderly people with SMC 36 . The findings may suggest that learning to play golf has an impact on specific cognitive domains, such as attention.…”

Golf and Physical Health: A Systematic Review

“…It is, however, to be noted that the cross-sectional study only made this comparison as a single time point, and thus cannot determine causality [49]. In addition, aerobic performance determined through VO 2 max [45] or 6-min walking test did not differ between golfers and controls [50], while submaximal exercise performance improved after golf training with lower SBP, HR at 100 W [45], and lower oxygen consumption, HR and lactate at 7 METs [36].…”

Myeloarchitectonic plasticity in elite golf players' brains

“…Shimada et al ( 2018 ) found improvements in immediate and delayed logical memory after a 24‐week golf training with healthy older adults. Learning to play golf over 22 weeks improved cognitive functions and the regulation of dysregulation of the kynurenine pathway that affects cognition in elderly people (Stroehlein et al, 2021 ).…”