Can Tai chi enhance cognitive vitality? A preliminary study of cognitive executive control in older adults after A Tai chi intervention.

We explored tasks of cognitive and physical performance in 20 older adult subjects after a 10 week Tai chi program in older adults using a pre-to-post test design. Improvement post intervention was seen in two cognitive measures of executive function and several physical performance measures. Preliminary findings in this non-controlled study suggest the possibility of beneficial effects of Tai chi on cognitive executive function in older adults and support the need to pursue this hypothesis in a randomized controlled trial.