Tai Chi Can Add “Extra Years” of Healthy Cognitive Function to Your Life.
(Nice News): A study published late last month is adding to the trove of evidence that exercise is just as good for our brains as it is our bodies. The paper specifically looked at tai chi, a form of Chinese martial arts focused on slow, controlled movement, and its ability to boost memory.
More than 300 older adults with reported memory problems took part in the study, which had them complete a test called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment to gauge their baseline cognitive function. The average score was 25, which is at the highest end of the range (18-25) that points to mild impairment. A score below 18 suggests moderate impairment and memory loss.
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Those who practiced a simple type of tai chi called Tai Ji Quan twice a week for six months improved their scores by 1.5 points, which study author Dr. Elizabeth Eckstrom told NPR indicates “three extra years” of staving off cognitive decline.
Even better, a more intense form of tai chi, called Cognitively Enhanced Tai Ji Quan, led to an average score improvement of around 3 points. This exercise includes brain challenges, like spelling words backward and forward, alongside the usual tai chi movements. “If you’re able to keep doing [tai chi] two or three days a week on a routine basis, you’re going to get extra years before you hit that decline into dementia,” Eckstrom said.