Author: Dan Song¹, Doris Yu², Jie Zhou³, Li Zeng⁴, Tianli Fan⁵
Affiliation: 1 Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, No.36, 7th Industrial Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong province, 518067, China. Electronic address: songdan@link.cuhk.edu.hk. 2 School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F, William MW Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: dyu1@hku.hk. 3 Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, No.36, 7th Industrial Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong province, 518067, China. Electronic address: jie.zhou0307@outlook.com. 4 Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, No.36, 7th Industrial Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong province, 518067, China. Electronic address: zengli12204@outlook.com. 5 Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, No.36, 7th Industrial Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong province, 518067, China. Electronic address: 375581035@qq.com.
Conference/Journal: Geriatr Nurs
Date published: 2022 May 30
Other: Volume ID: 46 , Pages: 98-104 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2022.05.005. , Word Count: 163

This study evaluated the effects of traditional Chinese medicine based exercise (TCE) on cognitive outcomes for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and tried to identify the most effective TCE modality. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials were conducted. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. TCE interventions were classified into three types: (a) Tai Chi, (b) Baduanjin, and (c) Qigong. The pooled analysis showed that, overall, TCE had beneficial effects on global cognition and memory. Subgroup analysis further demonstrated that Baduanjin had a larger effect size on global cognition than the other TCE modalities. By contrast, Tai Chi had a larger effect size on memory than the other modalities. This study implied that TCE is a promising exercise option for improving cognition in MCI. However, further studies with a more rigorous study design are warranted to support or falsify the findings of the present review.

Keywords: Cognitive function; Mild cognitive impairment; Traditional Chinese medicine based exercise.

PMID: 35653946 DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2022.05.005

Effects of traditional Chinese medicine-based exercises on cognitive function in older people with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis