Tai Chi Chuan and Baduanjin practice modulates functional connectivity of the cognitive control network in older adults.
Author: Tao J1,2,3, Chen X4, Egorova N3, Liu J1, Xue X5, Wang Q1, Zheng G1, Li M1, Hong W1, Sun S3, Chen L1,2, Kong J3
Affiliation:
1College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R., China.
2Fujian Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technology, Fuzhou, 350003, China.
3Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
4The School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8,9LD, UK.
5Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350003, China.
Conference/Journal: Sci Rep.
Date published: 2017 Feb 7
Other:
Volume ID: 7 , Pages: 41581 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1038/srep41581. , Word Count: 191
Cognitive impairment is one of the most common problem saffecting older adults. In this study, we investigated whether Tai Chi Chuan and Baduanjin practice can modulate mental control functionand the resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the cognitive control network in older adults. Participants in the two exercise groups practiced either Tai Chi Chuan or Baduanjin for 12 weeks, and those in the control group received basic health education. Memory tests and fMRI scans were conducted at baseline and at the end of the study. Seed-based (bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, DLPFC) rsFC analysis was performed. We found that compared to the controls, 1) both Tai Chi Chuan and Baduanjin groups demonstrated significant improvements in mental control function; 2) the Tai Chi Chuan group showed a significant decrease in rsFC between the DLPFC and the left superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and anterior cingulate cortex; and 3) the Baduanjin group showed a significant decrease in rsFC between the DLPFC and the left putamen and insula. Mental control improvement was negatively associated with rsFC DLPFC-putamen changes across all subjects. These findings demonstrate the potential of Tai Chi Chuan and Baduanjin exercises in preventing cognitive decline.
PMID: 28169310 DOI: 10.1038/srep41581
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