Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Inhibitory Control in Elderly Women: An fNIRS Study

Abstract

Background: Inhibitory control is a sub-ability of executive function and plays an important role in the entire cognitive process. However, declines in inhibitory control during aging significantly impair the quality of life of elderly people. Investigating methods to delay the decline of inhibitory control has become a focal point in current research. Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is one effective method used to delay cognitive declines in older adults. However, the specific effects of TCC on inhibitory control and the mechanisms through which TCC may improve cognition in older adults have not been comprehensively investigated. Objective: The study explores possible neurological mechanisms related to the effects of TCC interventions on inhibitory control in older people using a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technique and reaction times (RTs). Methods: A total of 26 healthy, elderly people who had not received TCC training completed all study procedures. The subjects were randomized to either the TCC group or the control group. Subjects in the TCC group were taught TCC by a certified instructor and trained for 8 weeks. The control group continued to perform general daily activities. The Flanker task was administered to every participant to evaluate inhibitory control preand post-intervention. While participants were performing the Flanker task, fNIRS data were collected. Results: Post-intervention, significant differences for incongruent flankers were found only for the TCC intervention group. Faster RTs were observed for the incongruent flankers in the TCC group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Analysis of the fNIRS data revealed an increase in oxy-Hb in the prefrontal cortex during the incongruent flankers after the TCC exercise intervention. Conclusion: The TCC intervention significantly improved inhibitory control in older adults, suggesting that TCC is an effective, suitable exercise for improving executive function and neurological health in elderly people.

Tai chi improves psychoemotional state, cognition, and motor learning in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…A sufficient cognitive challenge seems to play a greater role in obtaining cognitive benefits than high doses of intervention sessions ( Gheysen et al, 2018 ). Although no changes in memory were observed, the tai chi intervention resulted in improved mental switching, inhibitory control, and visuospatial processing in older adults, and again these findings are in line with previous studies ( Sungkarat et al, 2017 ; Wu et al, 2018 ; Yang et al, 2020 ). There is evidence that tai chi induces structural and functional changes, which explain the observed behavioral changes.…”

“…There is evidence that tai chi induces structural and functional changes, which explain the observed behavioral changes. Short-term regular Yang-style tai chi practice increases prefrontal cortex activation and this increase is associated with improvements in mental switching ( Wu et al, 2018 ) and inhibitory control ( Yang et al, 2020 ). Tao et al (2017b) found that the parahippocampal volume increased after tai chi practice, and it was also shown that the parahippocampal cortex is associated with visuospatial processing ( Aminoff et al, 2013 ).…”

“…An increasing amount of scientific evidence suggests that mind–body exercise, such as tai chi, reduces perceived and physiological stress ( Audette et al, 2006 ; Chan et al, 2018 ; Taylor-Piliae et al, 2006 ), decreases depressive symptoms ( Cho, 2008 ), and improves mood ( Taylor-Piliae et al, 2006 ) and various aspects of physical functioning (e.g., eye–hand coordination, balance, strength, and endurance) ( Audette et al, 2006 ; Lee et al, 2015 ; Lu et al, 2016 ; Riegle van West et al, 2018 ; Wu et al, 2018 ; Yan, 1998 ) and cognition ( Lu et al, 2016 ; Riegle van West et al, 2018 ; Sungkarat et al, 2018 ; Tao et al, 2017a , Tao et al, 2017b ; Wu et al, 2018 ; Yang et al, 2020 ) in healthy older adults. However, no studies have investigated whether tai chi remains effective in older adults who are living in improvement-limiting chronic stress conditions, such as a pandemic.…”

Differential Effects of Tai Chi Chuan (Motor-Cognitive Training) and Walking on Brain Networks: A Resting-State fMRI Study in Chinese Women Aged 60

“…Pieramico et al pointed out that multi-modal exercise can be an effective strategy to prevent aging-related cognitive loss, and significant capability of functional and structural changes were maintained in older adults [45]. Other studies have shown that regular physical training may contribute to changes in brain structure [46], brain function [47,48], and alleviate age-related cognitive decline [49]. In the majority of exercise cognition imaging studies, researchers have focused on short-term effects rather than prolonged cognitive benefits of exercise, particularly for motor-cognitive exercise training such as tai chi chuan that is culturally suitable for Chinese populations.…”

Brain Function in Middle-Aged Hong Chuan Tai Chi Players

“…Consistent with previous cross-sectional and cohort studies 3,37 , our study found that Hong chuan Tai Chi practitioners had better global cognitive status than Tai Chi-naïve controls. Although in this study a causal relationship cannot be assumed as many randomized controlled trials did 33,[41][42][43] , it still suggested a close association between Tai Chi practicing and cognitive benefits. A meta-analysis of executive function in randomized controlled trials of cognitively healthy adults indicated a large effect size induced by Tai Chi compared with controls and a moderate effect size compared with other exercise controls 5 .…”