Tai Chi for Mild Cognitive Impairment

Overseen By Nicholas Karayannis, MPT, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Ohio University

Disqualifiers: Uncontrolled cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 11

Duration: 8 weeks

50 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you have significant uncontrolled medication issues, you may be excluded from participating.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Tai Chi for mild cognitive impairment?

Research shows that Tai Chi, a gentle form of exercise, can help improve cognitive functions in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. It may work by enhancing brain activity and connectivity, increasing brain volume, and reducing inflammation. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Tai Chi safe for people with mild cognitive impairment?

Tai Chi is generally considered safe for older adults, including those with mild cognitive impairment, as it is a form of light-to-moderate-intensity exercise that is suitable for seniors. ^{2 3 4 6 7}

How does the treatment Tai Chi differ from other treatments for mild cognitive impairment?

Tai Chi is unique for mild cognitive impairment because it is a gentle mind-body exercise that can improve cognitive functions by enhancing brain connectivity and volume, and modulating brain-related factors, making it particularly suitable for seniors. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in older adults is linked to muscle loss (sarcopenia) and can lead to dementia, with pain further impacting cognitive and physical performance. Tai Chi, a mind-body exercise, is recommended for managing MCI as it supports cognitive function, mood, and physical health. The investigators' first goal is to characterize the correlation of heart rate variability and cortical activity on cognitive function and the psychosocial correlates of pain interference and social isolation on cognitive function at baseline and post-intervention (8 weeks of Tai Chi). The second goal is to explain the role of sarcopenia and obesity in the relationship between pain interference and cognitive function. The investigators also want to examine the index of the predictive capacity regarding sarcopenia and obesity on cognitive function outcomes.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for older adults who are experiencing mild cognitive impairment or sarcopenia, which is the loss of muscle mass. Participants should be interested in exploring Tai Chi as a potential therapy to improve their cognitive and physical health.

Inclusion Criteria

I have a MoCA score between >18 and ≤26, indicating mild cognitive impairment.

I am 60 years old or older.

I can stand on my own for 20 minutes without help.

Exclusion Criteria

I have low blood pressure from high blood pressure treatment and low blood sugar from diabetes treatment.

I do not have uncontrolled health issues related to heart, lungs, or metabolism.

I might have sleep apnea that is not under control.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants engage in an 8-week Tai Chi intervention with weekly 75-minute sessions

8 weeks

8 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Tai Chi

Trial Overview The study tests how Tai Chi affects heart rate variability, brain activity, pain interference with daily life, social isolation, and overall cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive issues or muscle loss over an 8-week period.

Participant Groups

Group I: Tai Chi Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The Tai Chi program content is based on the Harvard Medical School (HMS) Guide to Tai Chi, developed by clinical scientist Dr. Peter M. Wayne. Each participant will receive a workbook that describes the philosophy, evidence, and practice of Tai Chi, along with a video series for home practice that features the exercises from the HMS Guide to Tai Chi program. The in-person classes will be led by the Principal Investigator (PI) and delivered weekly over 8 weeks, with 75-minute sessions. The in-person and video series will introduce practice principles and tips on establishing and maintaining a practice, followed by a series of warm-up exercises, Tai Chi movements, and cool-down exercises.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Ohio University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

73

Recruited

17,800+

Findings from Research

A systematic review of 12 studies indicates that Tai Chi interventions significantly improve global cognitive ability and long-term memory recall in elderly adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

The recommended Tai Chi program should last at least 12 weeks, with sessions three times a week lasting 30-60 minutes, making it a practical and accessible option for cognitive rehabilitation in older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of Tai Chi on cognitive rehabilitation of elder adults with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Wei, L., Chai, Q., Chen, J., et al.[2022]

Tai Chi, a mind-body exercise, has been shown to improve cognitive functions and reduce symptoms of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults, suggesting it could be an effective management strategy for this condition.

The potential benefits of Tai Chi may arise from its ability to activate brain signals, enhance connectivity, increase brain volume, and modulate factors related to brain health, indicating a multifaceted mechanism of action.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mitigating effects and mechanisms of Tai Chi on mild cognitive impairment in the elderly. Wang, X., Si, K., Gu, W., et al.[2023]

Tai Chi significantly improves cognitive functions such as executive function, episodic memory, visuospatial function, and global cognition in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, based on a meta-analysis of 11 trials involving 905 participants.

Longer durations of Tai Chi practice (over 1500 minutes) are associated with greater improvements in global cognition, although caution is advised due to potential biases and small sample sizes in the studies reviewed.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Tai Chi on cognitive function among older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Chen, H., Wang, Y., Zhang, M., et al.[2023]

This systematic review will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Tai Chi (TC) for individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by analyzing randomized controlled trials from various databases, covering studies published from January 1990 to March 2019.

The review aims to provide updated evidence on whether TC can improve cognitive function in MCI patients compared to placebo, conventional treatments, or no treatment, potentially highlighting TC as a beneficial intervention for this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tai Chi for patients with mild cognitive impairment: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Yang, J., Chon, TY., Li, G., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 160 older adults with mild cognitive impairment, those who practiced Tai Chi for 16 weeks showed significant improvements in cognitive function and instrumental activities of daily living compared to a control group.

Despite the positive results, the changes in cognitive scores did not exceed the minimum detectable change thresholds, suggesting that while Tai Chi may enhance cognitive health, further research is needed to confirm its efficacy without measurement error.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of tai chi on cognition and instrumental activities of daily living in community dwelling older people with mild cognitive impairment. Siu, MY., Lee, DTF.[2018]

Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) significantly improved cognitive adaptations and reduced fear of movement in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, as shown by increased scores on relevant scales after 12 weeks of exercise.

The study, involving 20 participants who practiced TCC twice a week for 35-40 minutes, suggests that TCC can be safely implemented in nursing homes to enhance physical activity and cognitive status in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effectiveness of Tai Chi Chuan on fear of movement, prevention of falls, physical activity, and cognitive status in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial. Birimoglu Okuyan, C., Deveci, E.[2022]

Tai Chi (TC) exercise shows promise as a safe complementary therapy for managing cognitive impairment, but the evidence supporting its efficacy is currently of very low quality based on a review of 8 systematic reviews/meta-analyses.

All included studies had significant methodological flaws and reporting deficiencies, indicating a need for higher-quality research with better study designs and larger participant groups to validate the effectiveness of Tai Chi in cognitive impairment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evidence Quality Assessment of Tai Chi Exercise Intervention in Cognitive Impairment: An Overview of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Shi, H., Dong, C., Chang, H., et al.[2022]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of Tai Chi on cognitive rehabilitation of elder adults with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. [2022]

2. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mitigating effects and mechanisms of Tai Chi on mild cognitive impairment in the elderly. [2023]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Tai Chi on cognitive function among older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tai Chi for patients with mild cognitive impairment: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. [2023]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of tai chi on cognition and instrumental activities of daily living in community dwelling older people with mild cognitive impairment. [2018]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effectiveness of Tai Chi Chuan on fear of movement, prevention of falls, physical activity, and cognitive status in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evidence Quality Assessment of Tai Chi Exercise Intervention in Cognitive Impairment: An Overview of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2022]