Effect of 1 Year of Qigong Exercise on Cognitive Function Among Older Chinese Adults at Risk of Cognitive Decline: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Jing Jin¹  Yin Wu¹  Shaohua Li³  Suhui Jin¹  Lin Wang⁵  Jian Zhang¹  Chenglin Zhou¹  Yong Gao²  Zhen Wang³ 

[1] School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport;Department of Kinesiology, Boise State University, United States;School of Martial Arts, Shanghai University of Sport;Shanghai Caoyang Middle School;School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport

关键词: qigong;    exercise;    cognitive function;    cognitive decline;    aging;    elderly;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2020.546834

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Background: The rapidly aging Chinese population is showing an increase in age-related illnesses, including mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease. The best types of physical activity for the improvement of cognition remain unknown. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a tailored qigong exercise with that of stretching exercise in the maintenance of cognitive abilities in Chinese elders at risk of cognitive decline.Methods: Seventy-four community-dwelling adults aged ≥60 years were screened for eligibility. Using a randomized control group design, participants with scores ≥19 on the Chinese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA) were allocated to a 1-year qigong intervention ( n = 33) and a stretching control exercise group ( n = 33). The primary outcome was the MoCA score, as a measure of global cognitive function, and secondary outcomes were globe cognition and five domain scores on the Chinese version of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The MoCA and RBANS were administered at baseline and 1 year after intervention to assess the effect of the exercises on cognitive decline.Results: Twenty-five of 33 (75.8%) participants in the qigong group and 26 of 33 (78.8%) participants in the control group completed the 1-year exercise programs. A bivariate test revealed strong correlation between MoCA and RBANS total scores after the intervention ( r = 0.517, p 0.05).Conclusions: One year of qigong practice was significantly superior to stretching exercise not only for the prevention of cognitive decline progression, but also for the improvement of several cognitive functions, among older Chinese adults at risk of cognitive decline.

【 授权许可】

CC BY