Geriatric Nursing, 02/05/2014  Review Article

Miller SM, et al. – As the population of the United States ages, activities to maintain or improve cognitive function will become increasingly important to preserve functional ability, independence and health–related quality of life. As a moderate–intensity, low–impact form of exercise, Tai Chi is appropriate for older adults and seems to offer positive cognitive benefits. Recommendations for future research are provided.

Methods

• This article is a review of recent research on Tai Chi and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults.

Results

• Of the 12 studies reviewed, 10 reported improvement in measures of executive function, language, learning, and/or memory.
• Several design features make comparisons across studies challenging.