The Effects of Tai Chi Intervention on Healthy Elderly by Means of Neuroimaging and EEG: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Aging is a process associated with a decline in cognitive and motor functions, which can be attributed to neurological changes in the brain. Tai Chi, a multimodal mind-body exercise, can be practiced by people across all ages. Previous research identified effects of Tai Chi practice on delaying cognitive and motor degeneration. Benefits in behavioral performance included improved fine and gross motor skills, postural control, muscle strength, and so forth. Neural plasticity remained in the aging brain implies that Tai Chi-associated benefits may not be limited to the behavioral level. Instead, neurological changes in the human brain play a significant role in corresponding to the behavioral improvement. However, previous studies mainly focused on the effects of behavioral performance, leaving neurological changes largely unknown. This systematic review summarized extant studies that used brain imaging techniques and EEG to examine the effects of Tai Chi on older adults. Eleven articles were eligible for the final review. Three neuroimaging techniques including fMRI (N = 6), EEG (N = 4), and MRI (N = 1), were employed for different study interests. Significant changes were reported on subjects' cortical thickness, functional connectivity and homogeneity of the brain, and executive network neural function after Tai Chi intervention. The findings suggested that Tai Chi intervention give rise to beneficial neurological changes in the human brain. Future research should develop valid and convincing study design by applying neuroimaging techniques to detect effects of Tai Chi intervention on the central nervous system of older adults. By integrating neuroimaging techniques into randomized controlled trials involved with Tai Chi intervention, researchers can extend the current research focus from behavioral domain to neurological level.

Tai chi improves psychoemotional state, cognition, and motor learning in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Fifth, tai chi is considered to be a mind–body exercise ( Tao et al, 2017a ); it is therefore not possible to examine which activity—physical or mental—promotes the functional improvements reported here. Finally, studies show that tai chi affects hemispheric reorganization, such as modified brain activity, functional connectivity, and brain structures, in older adults ( Pan et al, 2018 ). Thus, in future studies, the application of advanced neuroimaging techniques and electroencephalography focused on the underlying mechanisms of cognitive and motor benefits is desirable.…”

Creating an Internal Environment of Cognitive and Psycho-Emotional Well-Being through an External Movement-Based Environment: An Overview of Quadrato Motor Training

“…Previous studies have shown that different forms of PA, including mind-body training [49,50,51,52,53,54,55] as well as mindfulness practices [56,57,58,59], can modulate electrical brain activity. To uncover the potential underlying electrophysiological mechanisms of QMT-induced cognitive changes, EEG power and coherence were first examined.…”

Effects of Mind–Body Exercise on Brain Structure and Function: A Systematic Review on MRI Studies

“…To the best of our knowledge, there is no systematic review or meta-analysis study that has integrated findings focused on different types of mind–body exercise as a whole. Previous systematic reviews on TCC [ 24 ] and yoga [ 19 , 25 ], were based on a small number of studies and did not focus on specific brain regions or networks affected by mind–body exercise. In the present study, we conducted a systematic review of MRI-based studies investigating the relationship between mind–body exercise and brain structure and function to elucidate the possible neural mechanisms underlying the health benefits of mind–body exercises.…”