Skip to main content

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Neurosci.
Sec. Neurodegeneration
Volume 18 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1467595
This article is part of the Research Topic Exercise-Induced Neuroplasticity in Neurodegeneration Diseases Volume II View all articles

The effectiveness of Tai Chi for patients with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Provisionally accepted
Xinxin Shao Xinxin Shao 1Yawei Xi Yawei Xi 2Lijie Pan Lijie Pan 1Xinru Li Xinru Li 1Qianxin Lin Qianxin Lin 1Keming Tian Keming Tian 1Rui Wang Rui Wang 1Yutong Gao Yutong Gao 1Hainan Gao Hainan Gao 1Tan Zili Tan Zili 1Xiangyu Zhu Xiangyu Zhu 1*
  • 1 School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
  • 2 Rehabilitation department, Liangxiang Hospital of Beijing Fangshan District, Beijing, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Objective: To explore the effectiveness of Tai Chi on cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods : According to the PRISMA guidelines, randomized controlled trial (RCT) literature on the efficacy of Tai Chi on MCI patients was searched in China National Knowledge Network (CNKI), China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Wanfang Data, China Scientific Journal Database (VIP), PubMed, Embase, Duxiu Database, Web of Science and Cochrane Library from their inception to April 2024. The risk of bias in each study was appraised using the Cochrane risk−of−bias tool using Revman 5.4. Random effect model or fixed effect model was used to compare the effects of Tai Chi and control conditions on baseline and post−intervention assessment of cognitive function. Meta−analysis was performed using Stata15.0 software. Results: Nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Tai Chi significantly improved Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA, SMD, 1.43, P < 0.00001), Delayed Recall Test (DRT, SMD, 0.90, P < 0.00001), verbal fluency test (VFT, SMD, 0.40, P < 0.00001), and Trail Making Test (TMT, SDM, -0.69, P < 0.00001) in MCI patients. Subgroup analyses showed that 24-forms Tai Chi was more effective than 8-forms Tai Chi in improving MoCA (SMD, 1.89, P < 0.00001) and 10-forms Tai Chi was more effective than 24-forms Tai Chi in improving DRT(SMD, 1.53, P < 0.00001) Conclusion: Tai Chi improved cognitive function in MCI patients, and Tai Chi types might be the influence factor on Tai Chi improving the global cognitive function and memory function in MCI patients.

    Keywords: Tai Chi, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Cognitive Function, Memory, neuroplastic changes

    Received: 20 Jul 2024; Accepted: 11 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Shao, Xi, Pan, Li, Lin, Tian, Wang, Gao, Gao, Zili and Zhu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Xiangyu Zhu, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.