The Effects Of Tai Chi Training On Improving Cognitive Performance In Middle-aged Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated that Tai Chi and aerobic exercise can alter the brain through different pathways, resulting in dissimilar brain adaptations. PURPOSE: To compare the effect of 12-week Tai Chi versus aerobic exercise on cognitive function among healthy middle-aged adults. METHODS: This was an assessor-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. One hundred and two participants were randomly assigned into the control group (n = 34), brisk walking group (n = 34), and Tai Chi group (n = 34). Participants in the brisk walking and Tai Chi groups received three 1-hour instructor-led sessions weekly, and they were instructed to perform two self-training sessions weekly for at least 15 minutes. The cognitive performance was measured by the Trail Making Test (executive function) and N-back Test (working memory) at baseline and after 12 weeks of the intervention. RESULTS: Eighty-five participants completed the intervention and were included in the analysis (control: n = 27; brisk walking: n = 32, Tai Chi: n = 26). Significant group-by-time effects were observed in the Trail Making Test (list A and B) and response time in the N-back test (0-back and 2-back). The Tai Chi group completed the Trail Making Test (list A) and N-back test (0-back and 2-back) significantly faster (p < 0.05) than the CON group at post-intervention. The Trail Making Test (list B) response time tended to be faster in the Tai Chi group than in the CON (p = 0.07) and walking (p = 0.09) groups. In contrast, we found that three months of brisk walking did not positively affect cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: Tai Chi exhibited greater improvements in cognitive performance than brisk walking exercise.