Tai Chi Improves Cognition and Plasma BDNF in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

TC training significantly improved memory and the mental switching component of executive function in older adults with a-MCI, possibly via an upregulation of BDNF.

Effects of T'ai Chi on Chronic Systemic Inflammation

“…Current randomized controlled studies on t'ai chi and chronic inflammation are summarized in Table 1. [1][2][3][4][5][6][8][9][10][11] Among these 9 studies, 3 were conducted in middle-aged or older cancer survivors, 3,4,6,9 4 studies were conducted in other subgroups of older adults (healthy older adults, and older adults with insomnia, depression, or mild cognitive impairment), 2,5,8,11 1 study was conducted in HIV-infected adults, 1 and 1 study was conducted in women with elevated cardiovascular disease risk. 10 All studies, except for 1, 10 included an active control group that received health education, cognitive behavioral therapy, or other interventions.…”

“…6,8 Six studies with active controls did not show a significant effect of t'ai chi on circulating levels of inflammatory markers and cytokines. 1,3,4,6,9,11 Two quasiexperimental studies were conducted by the same research group. 12,13 Compared with noncontact controls, 6-month t'ai chi practice did not alter circulating levels of inflammatory markers in older adults with periodontal disease, 12 and only lowered levels of one, but not other proinflammatory cytokines in older adults with metabolic disease.…”

“…T'ai chi vs. cognitive behavior therapy Systemic inflammation = CRP Cellular inflammation Y % monocytes producing IL-6 ( p = 0.07) Y % monocytes producing TNF ( p < 0.05) Y % monocytes coproducing TNF and IL-6 ( p < 0.02) Irwin et al 8 Older adults with insomnia (mean age = 65 years; 72% women) T'ai chi vs. control 2 months postintervention Y IFN-g ( p = 0.002) Y TNF-a ( p = 0.002) Y IL-8 ( p = 0.026) Y IL-4 ( p = 0.001) Y GCSF ( p = 0.087) Sungkarat et al 11 Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (mean age = 68 years; 86% women) the t'ai chi program varied, so it is difficult to evaluate the ''doses'' of the cognitive inputs and physical movements of these t'ai chi programs. Also, most t'ai chi programs were designed to last for <6 months, and it is unlikely to see changes in inflammatory markers over a relatively short-term lifestyle intervention.…”

“…Among 26 articles, 13 articles met the inclusion criteria. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] There were two sets of articles that describe the same studies. 3,4,7,8 The authors combined the two articles for one study, 3,4 and included one article for the other study.…”

Tai Chi is Effective in Delaying Cognitive Decline in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

“…After this, 148 articles that included reviews (n � 26), cross-sectional studies (n � 31), study protocols (n � 33), non-MCI (n � 48), no interesting outcome (n � 8), or for which data could not be extracted (n � 7) were identified as not fulfilling the predetermined inclusion criteria. Finally, 11 available RCTs involving 1061 participants with MCI were considered for this meta-analysis [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. Because the data from Fogarty et al [25] were not available, 10 studies were finally procured for meta-analysis ( Figure 1).…”