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This systematic review, conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, examined the mechanisms by which Tai Chi practice may benefit people living with Parkinson’s disease. Researchers searched four major databases in June 2026, identifying ten eligible studies — six randomised controlled trials and four non-randomised studies — that reported at least one mechanistic outcome related to motor symptoms.
The review found that Tai Chi was consistently associated with improvements in postural control, balance, muscle strength, and overall motor function, alongside reductions in muscle tone and enhancements in quality of life. At a biomechanical level, improvements were observed in centre-of-pressure displacement and muscle activity patterns. At the neural-network level, findings suggested improved coordination and greater activation in motor-related brain areas.
Several molecular and metabolic mechanisms were proposed, including increased dopamine-pathway markers, regulated inflammatory responses, enhanced antioxidant activity through elevated glutathione levels, and alterations in amino acid and energy metabolism — such as increased tricarboxylic acid cycle activity and arginine biosynthesis. Ubiquitin-proteasome system activity was also reported as enhanced in one study. However, the authors caution that the majority of these mechanistic findings are derived from peripheral blood biomarkers in small, single studies, rather than direct central nervous system measurements, and should be considered hypothesis-generating rather than definitive.
Conclusion: Tai Chi shows consistent benefit for motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease, but the biological mechanisms underlying these effects remain preliminary and require confirmation through larger, centrally-measured trials.
Source: Li Z, Wei X, Gao P and colleagues. Frontiers in aging neuroscience (2026). View on PubMed (PMID 42688220) · doi:10.3389/fnagi.2026.1883064