A study conducted by researchers at the Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine indicates that practicing a 24-form version of Taichi can boost cognitive functionality and physical health indicators in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) . These improvements were observed over a 36-week period and were more pronounced compared to a traditional fitness walking group. This makes taichi a potentially effective exercise regimen to mitigate the impact of T2D and, by extension, delay the onset of MCI progressing to dementia.
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with the progression of cognitive dysfunction. Taichi, which incorporates slow, intentional physical movements with meditation, has been gaining popularity as a treatment for many health conditions.
In this randomized clinical trial including 328 adults 60 years or older with T2D and MCI, taichi showed significantly more benefit on global cognitive function at 36 weeks compared with fitness walking.
Taichi is a form of mind-body exercise aiming at integrating musculoskeletal, sensory, and cognitive systems. It focuses on controlled, self-initialed exercise with synchronized breathing, and the movement patterns include center of gravity displacement, weight bearing and shifting, trunk and pelvic rotation, and eye-hand coordinated movements.
Because taichi is a mind-body exercise that requires constant memorization and learning of movements, it took longer for patients to achieve better performance, which might be an important reason why the significant differences were found at 36 rather than 24 weeks.
In this randomized clinical trial including older adults with T2D and MCI, taichi was found to be more effective than fitness walking at improving global cognitive function.
The findings support a long-term benefit of taichi in strengthening cognitive function, supporting the clinical application of taichi as an exercise intervention to promote cognitive function for older adults with T2D and MCI.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2803247
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