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PRACTICE
An ancient practice from faraway China could benefit the body and mind of people with mild cognitive impairment, as well as facilitate their everyday life and autonomy
The physical and mental benefits of tai chi, the Chinese practice that resembles choreography and combines martial art with gymnastics, have been described in the past by numerous studies, especially for the elderly. A newer study, however, highlights the benefits of an enhanced program of this method.
More specifically, a newer study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that a specially formulated and cognitively enhanced tai ji quan therapy, also known as tai chi, offered better cognitive ability and executive function, compared to standard tai ji quan practice or a stretching program. Commonly, with this practice, the elderly walked with better balance and with less interference associated with concurrent work.
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The study looked at 318 elderly people with mild cognitive impairment. The condition affects 16 to 20% of people over the age of 65 and is characterized by problems with memory and thinking, reducing the ability to perform complex tasks in daily life, such as dressing and cooking. Both cognitive decline and reduced executive function are associated with higher risk of falls, increased health care costs, and increased mortality. Although current guidelines recommend exercise to maintain cognitive function, the benefit of cognitively enhanced tai chi has not been extensively investigated.
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So researchers from the Oregon Research Institute focused on older adults with a total Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) of 0.5 or lower at baseline who participated in one of three 24-week exercise programs (cognitively enhanced tai ji quan , standard tai ji quan or stretching) via video conference for 1 hour twice a week.
Comparing the effectiveness of the interventions in improving overall cognitive ability and the concurrent task while walking, the researchers found that the benefits of cognitively enhanced tai ji quan were more significant regarding functional ability, working memory and executive function. The intervention was safe, with few mild side effects, and the positive effects were maintained for 48 weeks.