Gentle moves that can help you improve your cognitive function and prevent the risk of dementia.
A new study shows that mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a transitional phase before dementia, often co-occurs with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), with around 45% of T2D patients also having MCI.
However, there may be hope in the form of Tai Chi Chuan, a popular mind-body exercise that combines physical movement and meditative practices. According to researchers from Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a 24-form simplified Tai Chi Chuan program resulted in improved cognitive function and physical markers in individuals with T2D and MCI compared to those who participated in a traditional fitness walking program over a period of 36 weeks. This suggests that Tai Chi Chuan could be a potentially effective exercise program for reducing the effects of T2D and MCI, which can ultimately lead to dementia.
The study’s results were recently published in JAMA Network Open.
After 36 weeks, the group who practiced Tai Chi Chuan showed greater improvements in biomarkers and cognitive function than both the fitness walking and control groups. However, there were no significant differences between the groups at the 24-week mark, suggesting that improvements may take time to manifest.
The study’s findings demonstrate that Tai Chi Chuan is a more effective exercise program than fitness walking for enhancing global cognition in older adults with Type 2 Diabetes and MCI.
All study groups received an educational seminar on managing T2D, emphasizing the benefits of diet and exercise for improving the condition. Following this, participants in each group (except for the control group) performed Tai Chi Chuan or fitness walking three times a week for 60 minutes each time, under the guidance of a medical health professional.
At the start, during the 24-week and 36-week mark, researchers assessed the participants’ baseline metabolic markers, including fasted blood glucose levels, and measured Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores to gauge cognitive function on a global scale. A higher MoCA score indicates better cognitive function. After the 36-week study, the Tai Chi Chuan group showed a substantial improvement of 3.29 points in MoCA score compared to their baseline. In contrast, the fitness walking group only had an improvement of 2.32 points, with a significant decrease in the rate of improvement between the 24 and 36-week period. The Tai Chi Chuan group had a much smaller decrease of 0.29 points compared to the fitness walking group’s decrease of -0.68 points.
The researchers aim to develop a more evidence-based Tai Chi Chuan program for older adults with T2D and MCI in order to reduce the risk of progression to dementia in this population.
More extensive research is necessary to accomplish this objective. One drawback of the study is the limited follow-up time post-study, which does not provide information on the long-term effects of this form of treatment. Furthermore, since both exercise groups also received educational sessions on the advantages of physical activity, this may have introduced a bias to the study. However, the researchers reported a high compliance rate with the exercises after the study concluded.
To gain a further understanding of the potential benefits of Tai Chi Chuan, future studies can explore its effects on a larger sample size with fewer restrictions. This could reveal insights that apply to a broader population beyond the narrow criteria of the original study, promoting physical and cognitive health for various groups of people.
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