CONVENTIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE HEALTH PROMOTION

研究提案的广泛、长期目标是确定 是否有可能，使用多模式生活方式干预， 显著改变“通常的衰老”，即减缓、停止甚至逆转 与老化相关的减少量。为期3年的研究的具体目标 进行一项单盲对照临床试验，比较 常规和替代多模式干预的效果 相对于通常对以下三组变量的谨慎控制 健康和成功衰老：1)包括血液在内的生理指标 压力，胆固醇，DNA损伤，过氧化脂质，体重， 肌肉骨骼灵巧度和神经激素(脱氢表雄酮、生长抑素) 激素、皮质醇)；2)认知测量，包括短期和长期 记忆力、认知灵活性、选择反应时间、流畅和 明确智力；3)心理生活质量测量 包括生活满意度、心理困扰、自我效能感、 健康控制源、全球健康、自我发展和自我 整合。这项新资助的研究将在 使用基于社区的样本为跨学科团队提供指导 165名老年人(65岁)。它将提供有价值的信息 关于多因素的潜在机制和协同效应 通向成功衰老的方式。因为这项研究提供了一个 对一种主要的替代医学方法进行了严格的实证调查， 美国国立卫生研究院的替代医学办公室表达了对 为这项提议提供资金。

The broad, long-term objective of the research proposal is to determine whether it is possible, using multi-modality lifestyle interventions, to significantly modify "usual aging", i.e. to slow, stop or even reverse decrements associated with aging. The specific aims of the 3-year study are to conduct a single-blind, controlled clinical trial comparing the effects of a conventional and an alternative multi-modality intervention relative to a usual care control on three sets of variables relevant to health and successful aging: 1) Physiological measures including blood pressure, cholesterol, DNA damage, lipid peroxides, body weight, musculoskeletal dexterity, and neurohormones (DHEA, somatomedin growth hormone, cortisol); 2) Cognitive measures including short- and long-term memory, cognitive flexibility, choice reaction time, fluid and crystallized intelligence; 3) Psychological quality of life measures including life satisfaction, psychological distress, self-efficacy, health locus of control, global health, self-development and ego integration. This newly-funded study will be conducted under the direction of an interdisciplinary team using a community-based sample of 165 elderly individuals (>65 y.o.). It will yield valuable information on the underlying mechanisms and the synergistic effects of multi- modality approaches to successful aging. Because this study provides a rigorous empirical investigation of a major alternative medical approach, NIH's Office of Alternative Medicine has expressed a strong interest in funding this proposal.