Review Article

Tai Chi is Effective in Delaying Cognitive Decline in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 3

Study characteristics of included studies.

Author, yearParticipant N (AT); M/WMean ageInterventionFrequency and duration of intervention (Tai Chi)Group and/or homeSettingOutcomes/measure

Lam et al., 2011 [19]389 (15.4%)
92 M/297 W
77.2TG: 24 forms simplified Tai Chi (n = 171)
CG: Stretching and toning exercise (n = 218)
3 × 30 min/week for 5 monthsBothChinaMMSE; ADAS-Cog; category verbal fluency, delay recall; digit span (forward), digit span (backward); visual span (forward); visual span (backward); Chinese Trail A (sec); Chinese Trail B (sec); CDR Sum of Boxes
Lavretsky et al., 2011 [20]73 (6.8%)
28 M/45 W
70.6TG: Escitalopram plus Tai Chi (n = 36)
CG: Escitalopram plus health education (n = 37)
one 120-minute session/week for10 weeksGroupAmericanMMSE; Trail-Making Test A errors; California Verbal Learning Test; Trail-Making Test B; Stroop test
Lam et al., 2012 [21]389 (32.9%)
92 M/297 W
77.8TG: 24 forms simplified Tai Chi (n = 171)
CG: Stretching and toning exercise (n = 218)
3 × 30 min/week for 12 monthsBothChinaMMSE; ADAS-Cog; category verbal fluency; delay recall; digit span (forward); digit span (backward); visual span (forward); visual span (backward); Chinese Trail A (sec); Chinese Trail B (sec); CDR Sum of Boxes
Nguyen et al., 2012 [22]96(24.0%)
48 M/48 W
69TG: 24-form style Tai Chi (n = 48)
CG: maintain routine daily activities(n = 48)
2 × 60 min/week for 6 monthsGroupVietnamTrail-Making Test A
Trail-Making Test B
Mortimer et al., 2012 [23]60 (10.8%)
20 M/40 W
67.8TG: Tai Chi (n = 30)
CG: no-intervention control (n = 30)
3 × 50 min/week for 40 weeksGroupChinaWAIS digit span (forward); WAIS digit span (backward); bell cancellation test; Rey Figure (copying); Rey Figure (recall); Stroop test (word). Stroop test (color); Stroop test (color-word); Auditory Verbal Learning Test (immediate. recall); Auditory Verbal Learning Test (delayed recall); Auditory Verbal Learning Test (delayed recognition); Category verbal fluency (animals); WAIS similarities; Trails A Time (seconds). Trails B Time (seconds); clock drawing test; Boston Naming Test (correct names); Mattis Dementing Rating Scale (total score); Mattis attention score; Mattis initiation score; Mattis construction score; Mattis conceptualization score; Mattis memory score
Sun et al., 2015 [24]150 (8%)
NR
69.2TG: 24-form Yang-style Tai Chi (n = 72)
CG: nonathletic activities (playing cards or singing) (n = 66)
2 × 60 min/week for 6 monthsNRChinaMMSE
Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB)
Sungkarat et al., 2017 [26]66 (10.6)
9 M/57 W
67.9TG: 10-form Tai Chi (n = 33)
CG: educational information related to cognition (n = 33)
3-week center-based 12-week home-based Tai Chi (50 minutes per session, 3 times per week)BothThailandLM-delayed recall
DS-forward/backward
Block design
Trail-Making Test Part B–A
Tao et al., 2017 [27]61 (41.3%)
20 M/41 W
61.5TG: Tai Chi (n = 21)
Baduanjin (n = 15)
CG: Control (n = 25)
a 60-minute practice session 5 days per week for 12 weeksNRChinaWechsler Memory Scale
Sungkarat et al., 2018 [28]66(15.2%)
9 M/57 W
67.9TG: 10-form Tai Chi (n = 33)
CG: received educational material that covered information related to cognition (n = 33)
Practiced at home for 50 min/session, 3 times/week for 6 monthsBothThailandLogical memory-delayed recall
Digit span-forward/backward
Block design
Trail-Making Test Part B–A
Bao et al., 2019 [29]62 (0%)
29 M/33 W
NRTG: 24-form Yang-style Tai Chi Tai
Chi (n = 31)
CG: educational (n = 31)
30 min/session, 2 times/week for 6 monthsNRChinaMMSE
MoCA
Fogarty et al., 2016 [25]40 (0%)
19 M/21 W
72 yTG: Tai Chi plus memory training
CG: memory training
2 × 90 min for 22 weeksGroupEnglandHopkins verbal learning test; digit span and digit Symbol; Trail-Making Test (TMT) A and B; Rivermead Behavioral memory test; second Edition
Everyday attention

Abbreviations: ADAS-Cog, Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale; AT, attrition rate; CDR, Clinical Dementia Rating; CG, control group; DS, digit span; LM, logical memory; MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale; TG, treatment group; M/W, men/women; NR, not reported; TG, treatment group.