Effects of Tai Chi on cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults: A review

Geriatric Nursing

Volumn 35, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 9-19

  Miller, Sally M ^a   Taylor Piliae, Ruth E ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA   (United States)

Author keywords

Cognitive function; Mind body exercise; Older adults; Tai Chi

Indexed keywords

AGED; COGNITION; HUMAN; LEARNING; MEMORY; TAI CHI; UNITED STATES;

AGED; COGNITION; HUMANS; LEARNING; MEMORY; TAI JI; UNITED STATES;

EID: 84894901328     PISSN: 01974572     EISSN: 15283984     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2013.10.013     Document Type: Article

References (47)

1. Projected Future Growth of the Older Population 2010, Administration on Aging, Cited 21.04.13. http://aoa.gov/AoAroot/Press_Room/Social_Media/Widget/Statistical_Profile/2010/6.aspx.
2. Glisky E.L. Changes in cognitive function in human aging. Brain Aging: Models, Methods, and Mechanisms 2007, CRC Press, Boca Raton. D.R. Riddle (Ed.).
3. Salthouse T. Consequences of age-related cognitive declines. Annu Rev Psychol 2012, 63:201.
4. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5 2013, American Psychiatric Association, Amer Psychiatric Pub Inc.
5. Fletcher K. Dementia. Evidence-based Geriatric Nursing Protocols for Best Practice 2012, 163-185. Springer, New York. 4th ed. M. Boltz, E. Capezuti, T. Fulmer, D. Zwicker (Eds.).
6. Busse A., Angermeyer M.C., Riedel-Heller S.G. Progression of mild cognitive impairment to dementia: a challenge to current thinking. Br J Psychiatry Nov 2006, 189:399-404.
7. Physical Activity and Older Americans: Benefits and Strategies 2012, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Available at:, Cited 30.06.12. http://www.ahrq.gov/ppip/activity.htm.
8. Kramer A.F., Colcombe S.J., McAuley E., Scalf P.E., Erickson K.I. Fitness, aging and neurocognitive function. Neurobiol Aging 2005, 26(1, suppl):124-127.
9. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 2008, United States Department of Health & Human Services, Available at:, Cited 10.10.12. http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/Report/Default.aspx.
10. Adult participation in aerobic and musclestrengthening physical activities - United States, 2011. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2013, 17(62):321-344. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Accessed 14.10.13. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/mmwr_wk/wk_cvol.html.
11. Ainsworth B.E., Haskell W.L., Herrmann S.D., et al. 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities: A Second Update of Codes and MET Values 2011, 43. ETATS-UNIS: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Hagerstown, MD.
12. Voss M.W., Nagamatsu L.S., Liu-Ambrose T., et al. Exercise, brain, and cognition across the life span. JAppl Physiol 2011, 111(5):1505-1513.
13. Lista I., Sorrentino G. Biological mechanisms of physical activity in preventing cognitive decline. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2010, 30(4):493-503.
14. Hertzog C., Kramer A.F., Wilson R.S., Lindenberger U. Enrichment effects on adult cognitive development: can the functional capacity of older adults be preserved and enhanced?. Psychol Sci Public Interest 2008, 9(1):1-65.
15. Marmeleira J. An examination of the mechanisms underlying the effects of physical activity on brain and cognition. Eur Rev Aging Phys A 2012, 1-12.
16. Hogan M. Physical and cognitive activity and exercise for older adults: a review. Int J Aging Hum Dev 2005, 60(2):95-126.
17. Taylor-Piliae R.E., Newell K.A., Cherin R., et al. Effects of tai chi and western exercise on physical and cognitive functioning in healthy community-dwelling older adults. JAging Phys Act Jul 2010, 18(3):261-279.
18. Chang Y.K., Nien Y.H., Tsai C.L., et al. Physical activity and cognition in older adults: the potential of tai chi chuan. JAging Phys Act Oct 2010, 18(4):451-472.
19. Dechamps A., Lafont L., Bourdel-Marchasson I. Effects of tai chi exercises on self-efficacy and psychological health. Eur Rev Aging Phys A 2007, 4(1):25-32.
20. Lan C., Chen S.Y., Lai J.S. The exercise intensity of tai chi chuan. Med Sport Sci 2008, 52:12-19.
21. Li J.X., Hong Y., Chan K.M. Tai chi: physiological characteristics and beneficial effects on health. Br J Sports Med June 1, 2001, 35(3):148-156.
22. Norton K., Norton L., Sadgrove D. Position statement on physical activity and exercise intensity terminology. JSci Med Sport 2010, 13(5):496-502.
23. Taylor-Piliae R.E., Froelicher E.S. The effectiveness of tai chi exercise in improving aerobic capacity: a meta-analysis. JCardiovasc Nurs 2004, 19(1):48-57.
24. Li F., Fisher K.J., Harmer P., et al. Tai chi and self-rated quality of sleep and daytime sleepiness in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. JAm Geriatr Soc 2004, 52(6):892-900.
25. Irwin M.R., Olmstead R., Motivala S.J. Improving sleep quality in older adults with moderate sleep complaints: a randomized controlled trial of tai chi chih. Sleep Jul 2008, 31(7):1001-1008.
26. Wayne P.M., Kaptchuk T.J. Challenges inherent to t'ai chi research: part I-t'ai chi as a complex multicomponent intervention. JAltern Complement Med Jan-Feb 2008, 14(1):95-102.
27. Alperson S.Y. Tai Chi philosophy and nursing epistemology. Adv Nurs Sci 2008, 31(1):E1-E15.
28. Wayne P.M., Manor B., Novak V., et al. Asystems biology approach to studying tai chi, physiological complexity and healthy aging: design and rationale of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials 2013, 34(1):21-34.
29. Folstein M.F., Folstein S.E., McHugh P.R. Mini-Mental State: A Practical Method forGrading the Cognitive State of Patients for the Clinician 1975, Pergamon Press.
30. Hughes C.P., Berg L., Danziger W.L., Coben L.A., Martin R.L. Anew clinical scale for the staging of dementia. Br J Psychiatry Jun 1982, 140:566-572.
31. Hall C.D., Miszko T., Wolf S.L. Effects of tai chi intervention on dual-task ability in older adults: a pilot study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil Mar 2009, 90(3):525-529.
32. Lam L.C.W., Chau R.C.M., Wong B.M.L., et al. A1-year randomized controlled trial comparing mind body exercise (tai chi) with stretching and toning exercise on cognitive function in older Chinese adults at risk of cognitive decline. JAm Med Dir Assoc 2012, 13(6):568.e515-568.e520.
33. Lavretsky H., Alstein L.L., Olmstead R.E., et al. Complementary use of tai chi chih augments escitalopram treatment of geriatric depression: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Oct 2011, 19(10):839-850.
34. Nguyen M.H., Kruse A. Arandomized controlled trial of tai chi for balance, sleep quality and cognitive performance in elderly Vietnamese. Clin Interv Aging 2012, 7:185-189.
35. Wang W., Sawada M., Noriyama Y., et al. Tai chi exercise versus rehabilitation for the elderly with cerebral vascular disorder: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Psychogeriatrics Sep 2010, 10(3):160-166.
36. Kasai J., Busse A., Magaldi R., et al. Effects of tai chi chuan on cognition of elderly women with mild cognitive impairment. Einstein 2010, 8(1):40-45.
37. Matthews M.M., Williams H.G. Can tai chi enhance cognitive vitality? A preliminary study of cognitive executive control in older adults after A Tai chi intervention. JSC Med Assoc Dec 2008, 104(8):255-257.
38. Reid-Arndt S.A., Matsuda S., Cox C.R. Tai chi effects on neuropsychological, emotional, and physical functioning following cancer treatment: a pilot study. Complement Ther Clin Pract Feb 2012, 18(1):26-30.
39. Chan A.S., Ho Y., Cheung M., Albert M.S., Chiu H.F.K., Lam L.C.W. Association between mind-body and cardiovascular exercises and memory in older adults. JAm Geriatr Soc Oct 2005, 53(10):1754-1760.
40. Lam L.C.W., Tam C.W.C., Lui V.W.C., et al. Modality of physical exercise and cognitive function in Hong Kong older Chinese community. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry Jan 2009, 24(1):48-53.
41. Man D.W., Tsang W.W., Hui-Chan C.W. Do older t'ai chi practitioners have better attention and memory function?. JAltern Complement Med 2010, 16(12):1259-1264.
42. Strauss E.H., Sherman E.M.S., Spreen O. ACompendium of Neuropsychological Tests: Administration, Norms, and Commentary 2006, Oxford University Press.
43. McDowell I. Measuring Health: a Guide to Rating Scales and Questionnaires 2006, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
44. Shadish W., Cook T., Campbell D. Experimental and Quasi-experimental Designs for Generalized Causal Inference 2002, Wadsworth, Belmont, CA.
45. Central Intelligence Agency The World Factbook 2013, Cited 24.06.13. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2018.html.
46. Harada C.N., Natelson Love M.C., Triebel K.L. Normal cognitive aging. Clin Geriatr Med 2013, 29(4):737-752.
47. Kamijo K. Effects of Acute Exercise on Event-related Brain Potentials. Enhancing Cognitive Functioning and Brain Plasticity 2009, 111-132. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL. W. Chodzko-Zajko, A.F. Kramer, L.W. Poon (Eds.).