YoungFitT Project Studying Mind and Body Interventions Including Virtual Reality to Improve Brain Health and Well-being in University Students Aged 18 to 25

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to study how mind and body activities, including those done with virtual reality VR, affect brain health, thinking skills, and emotional well-being in college students aged 18 to 25 years. The study uses a detailed approach that looks at thinking, emotional health, biological markers, and brain imaging to understand how these activities might help. Researchers believe that three types of activitiesMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction MBSR, Qigong, and High-Intensity Functional Training HIFTwill improve thinking and well-being after three months compared to before starting. Participants will be divided randomly into groups to try either traditional or VR versions of these three activities, each lasting 12 weeks. Study 1 involves 174 students doing online HIFT, Qigong, or MBSR sessions, while Study 2 includes 45 students doing the same activities but using VR. Each intervention includes guided group sessions and individual practice. Before and after the 12-week programs, medical, mental, and physical tests are done, with brain scans and biological samples collected in Study 1. There is also a follow-up 12 weeks after the interventions to check on physical and emotional well-being through online questionnaires. During the study, participants will complete various tests measuring memory, attention, thinking skills, psychological symptoms, self-esteem, mindfulness, sleep quality, and diet. Physical fitness and health measures like heart rate, muscle strength, balance, and brain imaging will be done before and after the interventions. The study also tracks changes in gut microbiota and emotional status. For the VR group, usability and acceptance of the VR system are evaluated. The entire study includes careful monitoring and assessments over several months to understand the effects of these interventions on brain and psychological health.

Active Young, Healthy Mind. The YoungFitT Project