Help us understand how meditation & exercise boost immunity to colds & flu in older adults.

The University of Wisconsin's Department of Family Medicine is currently seeking participants to study the effects of meditation and exercise on the immune system. Men and women aged 50 years and older may be eligible to participate. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in exploring mindful meditation or exercise to reduce stress, improve health and enhance mental well-being.

If you are over 50 years old, call 263-COLD (2653) to see if you qualify:

• No medications to be tested
• Open to men and women ages 50+
• Healthy individuals who get at least one cold per year
• Participants will be paid
• Free training in meditation or exercise
• Two study phases for your convenience - Fall 2009 or Winter 2010

Your participation may include an 8-week behavioral training program in mindful meditation or exercise. Reliable transportation required to participate in weekly sessions at UW Sports Medicine Fitness Center (located at UW Research Park on Science Drive) and UW Pharmacy Building next to the UW Hospitals.

What is the Cold Study About?

The purpose of this study is to determine if EITHER 8 weeks of training in mindfulness meditation OR an 8-week exercise program are able to significantly boost the immune system, with the goal of preventing colds and flu. Approximately 150 adults aged 50 or older will participate in this study.

Evidence suggests that both mindfulness meditation and moderate exercise may be effective in modifying immune response and reducing illness. No studies have compared these two different types of activities. While training in mindfulness meditation has been reported to reduce stress, anxiety and negative emotion in younger adults, very little data is available among older people, and even less is available regarding the immune response to meditation.

Potential benefits of meditation and exercise on the immune system would be important for older adults, where the health consequences are greater. Stress and depressed mood in this population have also been shown to predict decreased response to flu shots.

The Meditation and Exercise for Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection (MEPARI) study is a grant funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It will start in September 2009 and continue through May 2010. This study is being conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Family Medicine.

What Will I Have to Do?

If you decide to participate in this study you will be randomized (like a roll of the dice) to EITHER an 8-week training program in mindfulness meditation OR an 8-week exercise training program OR neither (control group). You will be asked to fill out surveys on site and to answer surveys at home once a month. These ask about your general health and about topics such as stress, anxiety, depression, optimism and positive/negative emotion. We will monitor exercise or meditation practice, and ask about alcohol and tobacco use. Every time that you feel like you might be coming down with cold or flu symptoms you will be asked to fill out additional surveys documenting symptoms and how these affect your daily life.

How Do I Get Started?

1. Call the MEPARI Research Assistant at 263-COLD (2653). S/he will ask you questions to determine your eligibility.

2. If you are eligible and interested, the Research Assistant will set up an appointment to enroll you in the study.

3. The first enrollment study visit will last about 1 hour. You will fill out questionnaires to collect information such as: exercise habits, tobacco and alcohol use, current health conditions, mental health conditions, perceived and experienced stress, anxiety. There will also be health screenings, including a blood draw and a nasal wash sample (a simple buffered solution in the nose).

4. Each participant will be randomized into 1 of 3 groups which include: meditation, exercise or control. If you are assigned to either the exercise or meditation training sessions, you should expect to attend 8 weekly sessions each lasting approximately 2.5 hours. You will also be asked to do daily homework (either exercise or meditation-related practice) for about 45 minutes each day.

5. You will be given a flu shot during the 6th week of the 8-week training programs.

6. Throughout the study, you will be contacted by phone every 2 weeks by study staff who will ask you a few questions and answer any questions you may have. These bi-weekly phone chats should take no more than 5 minutes each. Filling out surveys each month at home may take up to 45 minutes each month.

7. For each cold or flu episode, you will be met once for a nasal wash sample and asked to fill out surveys once each day until your cold has ended. These daily surveys should take about 15 minutes each.

Will I Get Paid?

Yes! You will be paid $50 for completing the run-in trial, and $250 for complete participation in the main trial, for a total compensation of $300 per participant, plus free training in exercise or meditation (a $500 value). Only those who complete the run-in trial will be eligible for the main study. Control group participants will be offered free meditation or exercise training (or an additional $300) after the study is done.

Where is the Cold Study?

Reliable transportation is required to participate in weekly sessions at the UW Sports Medicine and Integrative Medicine Clinic (located at UW Research Park, 621 Science Drive). All other in-person meetings will take place at UW School of Pharmacy (located at 777 Highland Avenue, next to the UW Hospitals).

Who is Conducting the Cold Study?

The Meditation and Exercise for Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection (MEPARI) study is being conducted by a group of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Family Medicine working on research projects directed by Bruce Barrett, MD PhD. Severity and duration of cold and flu illness will be assessed using Dr. Barrett's Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS).