Tai Chi exercise improves age-associated decline in cerebrovascular function: a cross-sectional study

Background:
Tai Chi exercise has been reported to enhance physical and mental health in the older adults; however, the mechanism remains elusive.

Trial design:
We recruited 289 older adults practicing Tai Chi for over 3 years, together with 277 age-matched older and 102 young adults as controls. 168 Tai Chi practitioners were successfully matched to 168 older controls aged 60-69 based on a propensity score for statistics.

Methods:
Cerebrovascular function was evaluated by measuring the hemodynamics of the carotid artery. Spearman correlation was performed to validate the age-associated physiological parameters.

Results:
Cerebrovascular function in older adults significantly degenerated compared with the young, and was substantially correlated with age. Compared with the older control group, Tai Chi practitioners showed significant improvements in CVHI (cerebral vascular hemodynamics indices) Score (P = 0.002), mean blood flow velocity (P = 0.014), maximal blood flow velocity (P = 0.04) and minimum blood flow velocity (P < 0.001), whereas the age-related increases in pulse wave velocity (P = 0.022), characteristic impedance (P = 0.021) and peripheral resistance (P = 0.044) were lowered.

Conclusions:
These data demonstrate a rejuvenation role of Tai Chi in improving the age-related decline of the cerebrovascular function.

Trial registration:
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900025187).

Keywords: Ageing; Cerebrovascular function; Healthy ageing; Tai Chi.

PMID: 33957879 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02196-9