Improving Memory and Executive Function of the Elderly with Mild Congnitive Impairment-A Smart Health Care Approach

摘要

Objective: To explore whether long-term Taijiquan exercises affect the memory and executive function of the elderly with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Method: 108 elderly aged 65-85 with MCI were selected from two communities in Changsha City. They were randomly divided into experimental group (EG) and control group (CG) with 54 people in each group. They were instructed about the knowledge related to MCI and handbooks were distributed to them. The CG received health education and maintained regular exercise, while the EG received Taijiquan exercises at least four times a week for at least 45 minutes each time for a total of four months. The Auditory Vocabulary Learning Test (AVLT) and Trail Making Test-A (TMT-A) were used to evaluate the changes of memory and executive function before and after the experiment. SPSS18.0 software was used to analyze the general data of the subjects, AVLT long-delay recall score and TMT-A time-consuming. Results: Before the experiment, the scores of long delayed recalls of AVLT and TMT-A were no significant difference between EG and CG (p = 0.479, 0.814 > 0.05). After the experiment, the scores of the EG were significantly higher than those of the CG (p = 0.006 < 0.01; p = 0.034 < 0.05). The analysis shows that: The significant improvement of AVLT and TMT-A means the improvement of memory and executive function, so that long-term Taijiquan exercise can improve the cognitive ability of elderly with MCI. Conclusion: Taijiquan belongs to systemic aerobic exercise, which is very beneficial to cardiovascular system. Taijiquan emphasizes "using mind not power" and "combination of mind, breath and body," which can continuously stimulate the central nervous system and promote the establishment of intracerebral nervous network collateral and nerve synapses. Long-term Taijiquan exercises improve memory and executive function in elderly with MCI by affecting cardiovascular system and nervous system, and improve their cognitive ability. Because of its gentle and slow movement, rich and changeable forms, not limited by equipment and venues, it is helpful to promote widely in the community and play a role in delaying or reducing the occurrence and development of Alzheimer's disease.