Impact of Short- and Long-term Tai Chi Mind-Body Exercise Training on Cognitive Function in Healthy Adults: Results From a Hybrid Observational Study and Randomized Trial

Jacquelyn N Walsh, Brad Manor, Jeffrey Hausdorff, Vera Novak, Lewis Lipsitz, Brian Gow, Eric A Macklin, Chung-Kang Peng, Peter M Wayne, Jacquelyn N Walsh, Brad Manor, Jeffrey Hausdorff, Vera Novak, Lewis Lipsitz, Brian Gow, Eric A Macklin, Chung-Kang Peng, Peter M Wayne

Abstract

Background: Cognitive decline amongst older adults is a significant public health concern. There is growing interest in behavioral interventions, including exercise, for improving cognition. Studies to date suggest tai chi (TC) may be a safe and potentially effective exercise for preserving cognitive function with aging; however, its short-term and potential long-term impact on physically active, healthy adults is unclear.

Objective: To compare differences in cognitive function among long-term TC expert practitioners and age-matched and gender-matched TC-naïve adults and to determine the effects of short-term TC training on measures of cognitive function in healthy, nonsedentary adults.

Design: A hybrid design including an observational comparison and a 2-arm randomized clinical trial (RCT).

Participants: Healthy, nonsedentary, TC-naive adults (50 y-79 y) and age-matched and gender-matched long-term TC experts.

Methods: A cross-sectional comparison of cognitive function in healthy TC-naïve (n=60) and TC expert (24.5 y ÷ 12 y experience; n=27) adults: TC-naïve adults then completed a 6-month, 2-arm, wait-list randomized clinical trial of TC training. Six measures of cognitive function were assessed for both cross-sectional and longitudinal comparisons.

Results: TC experts exhibited trends towards better scores on all cognitive measures, significantly so for category fluency (P=.01), as well as a composite z score summarizing all 6 cognitive assessments (P=.03). In contrast, random assignment to 6 months of TC training in TC-naïve adults did not significantly improve any measures of cognitive function.

Conclusions: In healthy nonsedentary adults, long-term TC training may help preserve cognitive function; however, the effect of short-term TC training in healthy adults remains unclear.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01340365.

Keywords: Aging; cognitive function; dementia; tai chi.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT Flow
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparisons of cognitive performance between tai chi (TC) expert and TC-naïve adults. Symbols represent group means along with standard errors. Means were estimated using linear models controlling for education, age, gender, body mass index, and physical activity level (*P<.01). TC experts had significantly higher net cognitive function based on a composite z score calculated as the sum of z scores from all 6 cognitive outcomes (P=.028; see Table 2). Abbreviations: DS LONGESTBKWD, Digit Span longest backward span; DS LONGESTFWD, Digit Span longest forward Span; TC, tai chi; TMTA, Trail Making Test Part A; TMTB, Trail Making Test Part B. "FAS" represents letter fluency; "FAS_CATEGORY" represents category fluency.

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