Different Modulation Effects of Tai Chi Chuan and Baduanjin on Resting State Functional Connectivity of the Default Mode Network in Older Adults.

Author: Liu J1,2,3, Tao J2,3,4, Liu W2,4, Huang J2,4, Xue X5, Li M5, Yang M4, Zhu J4, Lang C3, Park J3, Tu Y3, Wilson G3, Chen L2,4, Kong J3
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Fujian Rehabilitation Tech Co-innovation Center, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Fuzhou, Fujian. <sup>2</sup>Fujian Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technology, Fuzhou, China. <sup>3</sup>Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA. <sup>4</sup>College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Fuzhou, Fujian. <sup>5</sup>Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China.
Conference/Journal: Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci.
Date published: 2019 Jan 18
Other: Special Notes: doi: 10.1093/scan/nsz001. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 200


The default mode network (DMN) plays an importment role in age-related cognitive decline. This study aims to explore the modulation effect of two mind-body interventions (Tai Chi Chuan and Baduanjin) on DMN in elderly individuals. Participants between 50 and 70 years old were recruited and randomized into a Tai Chi Chuan, Baduanjin, or control group. The Wechsler Memory Scale-Chinese Revision (WMS-CR) and resting state fMRI scans were administered at baseline and following 12 weeks of exercise. Seed-based resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) was calculated. We found that: 1) compared to the Baduanjin group, Tai Chi Chuan was significantly associated with increased rsFC between the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and right putamen/caudate; 2) Compared to the control group, Tai Chi Chuan increased posterior cingulate cortex rsFC with the right putamen/caudate, while Baduanjin decreased rsFC between the mPFC and orbital prefrontal gyrus/putamen. Baseline mPFC rsFC with orbital prefrontal gyrus was negatively correlated with VRS. These results suggest that both Tai Chi Chuan and Baduanjin can modulate the DMN, but through different pathways. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying different mind-body interventions may shed light on the development of new methods to prevent age-related diseasesas well as other disorders associated with disrupted DMN.

PMID: 30690554 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsz001