Mind-Body Exercise, Including Tai Chi, Improves Multiple Aspects of Cognition in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

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This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of mind-body exercise on cognitive function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. Researchers searched four major databases and identified seventeen randomised controlled trials involving a total of 1,251 participants. The mind-body exercise interventions studied included Tai Chi, Baduanjin, yoga, and mindfulness or meditation practices.

The pooled results showed statistically significant improvements across several cognitive domains. Global cognitive function, verbal fluency, executive function, episodic memory, and short-term memory all showed meaningful gains compared to control conditions. Working memory showed a trend towards improvement, though this result was not considered robust upon sensitivity analysis. No significant effects were found for processing speed and attention, nor for peripheral blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, meaning the biological mechanism through which benefits occur remains unclear.

Subgroup analyses indicated that Tai Chi-based interventions produced greater benefits overall, and that interventions lasting longer than twelve weeks yielded more pronounced improvements in verbal fluency specifically. The authors suggest that mind-body exercise represents a valuable adjunctive strategy for managing mild cognitive impairment in older populations, and that Tai Chi and longer programme durations may be particularly advantageous when designing exercise-based care plans.

Conclusion: Mind-body exercise, and Tai Chi in particular, significantly improves multiple domains of cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, though its effects on processing speed and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels remain unconfirmed.

Source: Dong N, Zeng B, Wang Q and colleagues. Geriatrics & gerontology international (2026). View on PubMed (PMID 42951347) · doi:10.1111/ggi.70863

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