Cognitive FunctionNCT07807631
Effects of Park Golf on Working Memory and Prefrontal Cortex Activation in Older Adults
A study testing Park Golf Program and Health Education Program in people with Cognitive Function and Working Memory, run by Gwangju Health University at 1 site in South Korea.
Trial summary
This study investigates whether a park golf program can improve working memory and prefrontal cortex activity in community-dwelling older adults. A total of 36 older adults (aged 65-85) were randomly assigned to either a park golf group or a health education group. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 to 85 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Cognitive Function, Working Memory
- What is being tested?
- Park Golf Program and Health Education Program
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSouth Korea
- Study dates
- 10 Sep 2026to 15 Oct 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 65 to 85 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Community-dwelling older adults aged 65 to 85 years, living independently (excluding those residing in nursing facilities or hospitalized)
- Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K) score of 23 or higher (normal cognitive function range)
- Able to walk independently and possess the basic functional capacity required to participate in park golf
- No experience with park golf, or no regular participation in park golf within the past 6 months
- Voluntary written informed consent to participate in the study
Who cannot join
- History of severe neurological disease (e.g., Parkinson's disease, stroke, dementia) or psychiatric disease (e.g., major depressive disorder, schizophrenia)
- Scalp disease, skull abnormality, or history of craniotomy that could affect fNIRS measurement
- Currently taking medications affecting cognitive function (e.g., anticholinergics, antipsychotics)
- Regular participation in high-intensity exercise programs 3 or more times per week
- Physician-prescribed restriction on physical activity
- Severe visual or auditory impairment that would make assessment difficult, even with correction
- Left-handedness (excluded to control for hemispheric dominance in fNIRS measurement)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
South Korea1 site
Gwangju Health University, Buk-gu Campus, Smart Care Village
Gwangju, Gwangju, 61161
About this study
Official title: Does Park Golf Affect Working Memory?: An fNIRS-Based Randomized Controlled Trial in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
This study investigates whether a park golf program can improve working memory and prefrontal cortex activity in community-dwelling older adults. A total of 36 older adults (aged 65-85) were randomly assigned to either a park golf group or a health education group. The park golf group participated in a supervised park golf program (2 sessions per week for 4 weeks, 60 minutes per session), while the health education group attended lectures on healthy aging topics such as nutrition and fall prevention on the same schedule. Before and after the intervention, participants completed cognitive and physical assessments, including the Korean Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K), the Timed Up and Go test, and a spatial working memory task (N-back) performed while brain activity in the prefrontal cortex was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive, radiation-free imaging method. The findings may help establish evidence for community-based physical activity programs, such as park golf, as a strategy to support cognitive health in older adults.
- Conditions
- Cognitive Function, Working Memory
- Being tested
- Park Golf Program, Health Education Program
- Keywords
- Park Golf, fNIRS, Older Adults, Prefrontal Cortex, Randomized Controlled Trial, Working Memory, N-back Task, Community-Dwelling Older Adults
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Park Golf ProgramBehavioural
A structured, supervised park golf program consisting of 8 sessions over 4 weeks (2 sessions/week, 60 minutes/session). Each session included a 10-minute warm-up, 40 minutes of park golf technique instruction and practice, and a 10-minute cool-down, conducted at an outdoor community park under the supervision of trained instructors.
Health Education ProgramBehavioural
A structured health education program consisting of 8 sessions over 4 weeks (2 sessions per week, 60 minutes per session), covering topics such as senior health management, nutrition, fall prevention, and chronic disease management, conducted at a community facility.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Park Golf Group (PGG) | Experimental | Participants attended supervised park golf sessions twice weekly for 4 weeks (8 sessions total, 60 minutes per session), including warm-up (10 min), park golf skills training and practice (40 min), and cool-down (10 min), held at a community park. Receives: Behavioral: Park Golf Program |
| Health Education Group (HEG) | Active comparator | Participants attended health education lectures on senior health management, nutrition, fall prevention, and chronic disease management, twice weekly for 4 weeks (8 sessions total, 60 minutes per session). Receives: Behavioral: Health Education Program |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Prefrontal Cortex Activation (Beta-value of HbO Concentration)
Change in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentration in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), measured as a beta-value derived from general linear model (GLM) analysis during the spatial N-back task, using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Measured: Change from baseline to 4 weeks (post-intervention)
Secondary outcomes (4)
Working Memory Performance (Spatial N-back Task)
Reaction time and accuracy on the 2-back condition of a spatial N-back task, assessing spatial working memory. Task administered using E-Prime 3.0 software with 1-back and 2-back conditions presented in alternating blocks.
Measured: Change from baseline to 4 weeks (post-intervention)
Dynamic Balance (Timed Up and Go Test)
Time (in seconds) taken to rise from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, and return to sitting, assessing dynamic balance and functional mobility.
Measured: Change from baseline to 4 weeks (post-intervention)
Cognitive-Motor Dual-Task Performance (TUG with Naming Animals)
Performance on the TUG test while simultaneously naming as many animals as possible, assessing integrated cognitive-motor function. Measures include dual-task time, dual-task cost, number of animals named, and animals named per 10 seconds.
Measured: Change from baseline to 4 weeks (post-intervention)
Global Cognitive Function (Korean Montreal Cognitive Assessment)
Overall cognitive function assessed using MoCA-K, covering visuospatial/executive function, naming, attention, language, abstraction, delayed recall, and orientation. Total score range 0-30.
Measured: Change from baseline to 4 weeks (post-intervention)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Sep 2026
- Study start10 Sep 2026
- Primary completion15 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Oct 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Cognitive FunctionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were randomly allocated to one of two parallel groups: a park golf intervention group or a health education control group.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Gwangju Health University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Eun-Sang Lee, PhD, Principal investigator, Gwangju Health University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07807631
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P01-202607-01-010
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 14 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Data will not be shared beyond this study, in accordance with the informed consent obtained from participants, which specified that collected data would be used solely for this study without secondary use or third-party disclosure.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Does Park Golf Affect Working Memory?: An fNIRS-Based Randomized Controlled Trial in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07807631
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- P01-202607-01-010
- Conditions
- Cognitive Function, Working Memory
- Keywords
- Park Golf, fNIRS, Older Adults, Prefrontal Cortex, Randomized Controlled Trial, Working Memory, N-back Task, Community-Dwelling Older Adults
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Gwangju Health UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 8 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study investigates whether a park golf program can improve working memory and prefrontal cortex activity in community-dwelling older adults. A total of 36 older adults (aged 65-85) were randomly assigned to either a park golf group or a health education group. The park golf group participated in a supervised park golf program (2 sessions per week for 4 weeks, 60 minutes per session), while the health education group attended lectures on healthy aging topics such as nutrition and fall prevention on the same schedule. Before and after the intervention, participants completed cognitive and physical assessments, including the Korean Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K), the Timed Up and Go test, and a spatial working memory task (N-back) performed while brain activity in the prefrontal cortex was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive, radiation-free imaging method. The findings may help establish evidence for community-based physical activity programs, such as park golf, as a strategy to support cognitive health in older adults.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants were randomly allocated to one of two parallel groups: a park golf intervention group or a health education control group.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Park Golf Group (PGG) | Experimental | Behavioral: Park Golf ProgramParticipants attended supervised park golf sessions twice weekly for 4 weeks (8 sessions total, 60 minutes per session), including warm-up (10 min), park golf skills training and practice (40 min), and cool-down (10 min), held at a community park. |
| Health Education Group (HEG) | Active comparator | Behavioral: Health Education ProgramParticipants attended health education lectures on senior health management, nutrition, fall prevention, and chronic disease management, twice weekly for 4 weeks (8 sessions total, 60 minutes per session). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 to 85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Community-dwelling older adults aged 65 to 85 years, living independently (excluding those residing in nursing facilities or hospitalized)
- Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K) score of 23 or higher (normal cognitive function range)
- Able to walk independently and possess the basic functional capacity required to participate in park golf
- No experience with park golf, or no regular participation in park golf within the past 6 months
- Voluntary written informed consent to participate in the study
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- History of severe neurological disease (e.g., Parkinson's disease, stroke, dementia) or psychiatric disease (e.g., major depressive disorder, schizophrenia)
- Scalp disease, skull abnormality, or history of craniotomy that could affect fNIRS measurement
- Currently taking medications affecting cognitive function (e.g., anticholinergics, antipsychotics)
- Regular participation in high-intensity exercise programs 3 or more times per week
- Physician-prescribed restriction on physical activity
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Park Golf ProgramA structured, supervised park golf program consisting of 8 sessions over 4 weeks (2 sessions/week, 60 minutes/session). Each session included a 10-minute warm-up, 40 minutes of park golf technique instruction and practice, and a 10-minute cool-down, conducted at an outdoor community park under the supervision of trained instructors. | Behavioural | Park Golf Group (PGG) |
| Health Education ProgramA structured health education program consisting of 8 sessions over 4 weeks (2 sessions per week, 60 minutes per session), covering topics such as senior health management, nutrition, fall prevention, and chronic disease management, conducted at a community facility. | Behavioural | Health Education Group (HEG) |
Primary outcome
Change in Prefrontal Cortex Activation (Beta-value of HbO Concentration)
Time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks (post-intervention)
Change in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentration in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), measured as a beta-value derived from general linear model (GLM) analysis during the spatial N-back task, using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
4 secondary outcomes
Working Memory Performance (Spatial N-back Task)
Time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks (post-intervention)
Dynamic Balance (Timed Up and Go Test)
Time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks (post-intervention)
Cognitive-Motor Dual-Task Performance (TUG with Naming Animals)
Time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks (post-intervention)
Global Cognitive Function (Korean Montreal Cognitive Assessment)
Time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks (post-intervention)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Data will not be shared beyond this study, in accordance with the informed consent obtained from participants, which specified that collected data would be used solely for this study without secondary use or third-party disclosure.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Eun-Sang Lee, PhD principal investigator
Gwangju Health University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Park Golf Program and Health Education Program in people with Cognitive Function and Working Memory, run by Gwangju Health University at 1 site in South Korea.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in South Korea. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Prefrontal Cortex Activation (Beta-value of HbO Concentration) (time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks (post-intervention)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Sep 2026.