Tai Chi, or Tai Chi Chuan, is a traditional Chinese martial art that combines slow movements with deep breathing and mental focus, initially designed for self-defense but now widely embraced for its health benefits. A recent multicenter randomized controlled trial has provided strong evidence of its efficacy as a therapeutic exercise for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The study found that practicing Tai Chi Chuan can significantly delay cognitive decline in this demographic, as nearly 45% of T2D patients also show signs of MCI.
Conducted over 36 weeks, researchers at the Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine discovered that participants practicing a 24-form simplified Tai Chi routine showed greater improvements in cognitive functionality and physical health than those in a fitness walking group. Cognitive evaluations, using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), revealed a substantial average increase of 3.29 points in the Tai Chi group compared to just 2.32 points in the walking group. The findings highlight Tai Chi Chuan as a potentially effective regimen for reducing the progression to dementia in older adults with T2D and MCI, with recommendations for future research to expand its application to broader populations.
