Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 1 de 1
Filter
Add more filters











Database
Language
Publication year range
1.
Complement Ther Med ; 42: 132-136, 2019 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30670231

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The role of exercise in preventing or delaying age-related cognitive decline is an important focus of rehabilitation. Tai Chi (TC) is a traditional Chinese exercise that has been found to improve cognitive function. However, the mechanism underlying this improvement is still unknown. We compared the effects of TC practice (mind-body exercise) and arm ergometry (AE; body focused exercise) on prefrontal cortex activity between TC practitioners and non-practitioners. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study included 16 older female subjects (8 TC practitioners and 8 non-practitioners). The practitioners had each practiced TC for at least 7 years. Prefrontal cortex activity was measured using the prefrontal oxygenation level obtained with near-infrared spectroscopy. During the spectroscopy measurement, the participants performed TC, after watching a video of 12-form seated Yang Style TC, and AE in a subsequent session. RESULTS: We found significantly greater changes in the levels of oxyhemoglobin (HbO2; p = 0.022) and total hemoglobin (cHb; p = 0.002) in the TC condition compared with the AE condition in all participants. In the TC practitioner group, a similar trend was shown in the change of HbO2 (p = 0.117) and cHb (p = 0.051) when practicing TC versus AE. However, in the non-practitioner group, we found a statistically greater change in cHb (p = 0.005) but not in HbO2 (p = 0.056). CONCLUSION: The older adults had higher brain activity when practicing TC compared with AE, and a significant effect was observed in the non-practitioner group. These pilot results may provide insight into the underlying mechanism of the effectiveness of TC practice in preventing cognitive decline in older adults.


Subject(s)
Exercise/physiology , Exercise/psychology , Oxygen/metabolism , Prefrontal Cortex/physiology , Tai Ji/psychology , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Pilot Projects , Postural Balance/physiology
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL