Open AccessTraditional Chinese Mind-Body Exercise Baduanjin Modulate Gray Matter and Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Brain Imaging Study
Author(s) -
Guohua Zheng,
Bingzhao Ye,
Rui Xia,
Pingting Qiu,
Moyi Li,
Yuhui Zheng,
Zhenyu Xiong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
brain plasticity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2213-6312
pISSN - 2213-6304
DOI - 10.3233/bpl-210121
Subject(s) - medial frontal gyrus , precentral gyrus , superior frontal gyrus , psychology , montreal cognitive assessment , cognition , audiology , wechsler adult intelligence scale , functional magnetic resonance imaging , supramarginal gyrus , physical medicine and rehabilitation , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , neuroscience , cognitive impairment , radiology
Background: Previous studies found traditional Chinese mind-body exercise Baduanjin could modulate cognition of community older adults. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect of 6 months of Baduanjin exercise on brain structure and cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: The MCI older adults were randomly assigned into either Baduanjin training, brisk walking training or usual physical activity control group. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Wechsler Memory Scale-Chinese Revised (WMS-CR) were applied to measure gray matter volume (GMV), global cognitive ability and memory at baseline and end of intervention. Results: Compared to usual physical activity, Baduanjin exercise significantly improved MoCA, WMS-CR scores, WMS-MQ, and mental control and comprehension memory subscores of the WMS-CR; significantly increased the GMV in the temporal gyrus, frontal gyrus, parietal gyrus, medial occipital gyrus, cingulate gyrus and angular gyrus after 6 months of intervention. Compared to brisk walking, Baduanjin significantly improved MoCA scores and picture reproduction subscores of memory, and significantly increased the GMV in the right frontal gyrus, precentral gyrus, occipital gyrus. Furthermore, the increased GMV in the right medial temporal gyrus was significantly associated with improvement in the MoCA scores. Conclusion: The present study suggested that regular Baduanjin training could have a positive effect in increasing brain gray matter and improving cognitive function in older adults with MCI.