Brief mind-body exercise in high-latitude aging: reduced sedentarism and domain-specific cognitive/social benefits.

Sitting time decreased following the 24-week mind-body exercise program, with a probability of direction indicating a reduction in sedentary behavior.

• Sitting time change: β = -0.71; 95% CrI -2.07 to 0.52; pd = 86.1%
• The program consisted of 24 supervised sessions of 60 minutes each, delivered once per week over 24 weeks
• Sedentary behavior was measured using the IPAQ-Short (sitting min/day)
• Community-dwelling older adults in Punta Arenas, Chile (N = 44; mean age 69.7 ± 5.3 years)

Weekly physical activity increased following the mind-body exercise intervention.

• Physical activity change: β = 0.52; 95% CrI -0.76 to 1.81; pd = 78.9%
• Physical activity was measured using IPAQ-Short in MET-min/week
• The intervention was delivered in a community setting as a climate-adapted indoor program

Age moderated the change in sedentary behavior, with relatively younger participants reducing sitting time more than older participants.

• Age × time interaction: β = 0.46; 95% CrI 0.03 to 0.89; pd = 98%
• The positive interaction coefficient indicates that higher age was associated with less reduction in sitting time
• Bayesian linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate moderation by age, sex, and education

Global cognitive function as measured by the MoCA remained stable over the course of the intervention.

• Global MoCA change: β = -0.27; 95% CrI -1.63 to 1.10; pd = 65.2%
• The low probability of direction (65.2%) suggests no meaningful directional change in overall cognition
• The MoCA was used to assess global cognition as well as domain-specific scores including visuospatial-executive function

The visuospatial-executive domain of cognition tended to improve following the mind-body exercise program.

• Visuospatial-executive domain change: β = 0.45; 95% CrI -0.87 to 1.78; pd = 74.5%
• Visuospatial-executive functions were noted as 'particularly vulnerable to age-related decline after the seventh decade of life'
• The improvement was domain-specific, occurring without a corresponding change in global MoCA scores

Empathy as measured by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index total score increased following the intervention, with women showing greater improvement than men.

• IRI total change: β = 0.59; 95% CrI -0.75 to 1.94; pd = 81.2%
• Sex × time interaction: β = -0.97; 95% CrI -1.92 to -0.07; pd = 97.8%
• The negative sex interaction coefficient with pd = 97.8% indicates women improved more than men in empathy
• Empathy was assessed using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI)

The study population consisted of community-dwelling older adults at high southern latitudes who face compounded barriers to physical activity due to environmental conditions.

• Sample: N = 44 participants from Punta Arenas, Chile; mean age 69.7 ± 5.3 years
• Barriers identified include cold, wind, and seasonality characteristic of sub-Antarctic settings
• A pre-experimental single-group pre-post design was used, with Bayesian linear mixed-effects models for analysis
• The program was described as 'low-dose, climate-adapted mind-body exercise (MBE), delivered once weekly in community settings'