A study of more than 304 community-dwelling older adults  (mean age, 76; about 67%, women) experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or self-reported memory concerns found that cognitively enriched tai chi was superior to standard tai chi or stretching for improving global cognition and dual-task walking (i.e., walking while doing another activity such as talking on the phone).

The authors note that the virtual, home-based exercise program also had high fidelity and adherence, suggesting that it could be a feasible, acceptable exercise-based therapy for older adults concerned about cognitive impairment.  Current clinical guidelines recommend exercise to preserve cognitive function and mitigate decline in older adults, but the effects of cognitively enhanced tai chi are not fully understood.

The researchers  randomly assigned 304 participants to cognitively enriched tai chi, standard tai chi or stretching for one hour twice weekly for 24 weeks via videoconferencing. Cognitively enhanced tai chi included following verbal and visual instruction on eight tai chi forms and, in addition, challenging participants with cognitively demanding activities such as verbally repeating the step-by-step forms after the instructor; practicing the forms correctly even when the instructor gave the wrong cues; and remembering the forms in sequence or at random.

Cognitively enhanced tai ji quan significantly improved global cognition and lowered cognitive costs associated with dual-task walking at 24 weeks compared with standard tai ji quan or stretching. Favorable improvements were also seen in cognition and function, executive function, and working memory compared with the other two interventions, and the effects were sustained at 48 weeks.

To download the abstract, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, click here

To learn more about the study, which is still in progress, click here