Tai Ji Quan and Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment
Efficacy of Adapted Tai Ji Quan to Slow Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
1 other identifier
interventional
318
1 country
1
Brief Summary
To determine the efficacy of a cognitively enhanced exercise intervention - Tai Ji Quan: Moving to Maintain Brain Health in improving global cognitive function and dual-task ability in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started Oct 2019
Longer than P75 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
August 26, 2019
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
August 28, 2019
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
October 15, 2019
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
November 30, 2023
CompletedResults Posted
Study results publicly available
August 26, 2025
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
December 30, 2025
CompletedAugust 26, 2025
August 1, 2025
4.1 years
August 26, 2019
March 28, 2025
August 22, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (2)
Montreal Cognitive Assessment
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale measures change in global cognitive function from baseline to 6 months. The scale scores range from 0 to 30 points, with higher scores indicating better cognitive functioning.
baseline, 6 months
Gait Performance Under a Dual-task Condition
Assessing change in dual-task ability (measured in seconds) from baseline to 6 months. Change will be assessed via an Instrumental Timed Up\&Go (iTUG) gait performance (APDM, Inc.) in which the participant is asked to stand up from a chair, walk a 6-m walkway at normal pace (3 m toward a line, turn, and 3 m toward the chair), turn around, and sit down on the chair, with no cognitive task (single-task walking). The participant is then asked to perform the same procedure with a concurrent cognitive task (counting backward by 3s, starting with an odd number, e.g., 81).12 The total walking duration (in seconds) during both 6-meter walks, at normal pace, will be recorded. Lower duration indicates a better outcome.
baseline, 6 months
Secondary Outcomes (8)
Clinical Dementia Rating Scale
baseline, 6 months
Domain-specific Cognitive Test - Trail Making - B
baseline, 6 months
4-Stage Balance Test
baseline, 6 months
Backward Digit Span
baseline, 6 months
Verbal Fluency Test
baseline, 6 months
- +3 more secondary outcomes
Other Outcomes (6)
Sleep Quality - Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
baseline, 6 months
Depression - Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
baseline, 6 months
Activity and Movement Confidence Scales
baseline, 6 months
- +3 more other outcomes
Study Arms (3)
Cognitively enhanced Tai Ji Quan
EXPERIMENTALParticipants in this arm will exercise a series of Tai Ji Quan-based movements with configurations that are specifically designed for older adults to improve cognitive function, dual-task ability, strength/balance, and mobility.
Standard Tai Ji Quan
ACTIVE COMPARATORServing as an active comparison arm, participants in this intervention will exercise a series of Tai Ji Quan-based movements that are specifically designed for older adults to improve strength/balance, cognitive function, and mobility.
Stretching
SHAM COMPARATORServing as a control arm, participants in this intervention will engage in a series of light exercise activities consisting of breathing, stretching, and body relaxation.
Interventions
Exercise and Cognition
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- complaint of memory loss
- clinical dementia rating (CDR) scale score ≤0.5
- having normal general cognitive function screened, with MMSE ≥24
- capable of exercising safely, as determined by a healthcare provider
- willingness to be randomly assigned to an intervention condition and complete the 24-week intervention and 6-month follow-up
You may not qualify if:
- having medical conditions likely to compromise survival, such as metastatic cancer, or render a participant unable to engage in physical activity, such as severe cardiac failure
- participating in any type of Tai Ji Quan or daily and/or structured vigorous physical activity (i.e., brisk walking for exercise 30 minutes or longer at a time, or engaging in muscle-strengthening activities, e.g., weight lifting on 3 or more days per week 3 months prior to the study)
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Oregon Research Institute
Eugene, Oregon, 97403, United States
Related Publications (3)
Li F, Harmer P, Eckstrom E, Fitzgerald K, Winters-Stone K. Clinical Effectiveness of Cognitively Enhanced Tai Ji Quan Training on Global Cognition and Dual-Task Performance During Walking in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Self-Reported Memory Concerns : A Randomized Controlled Trial. Ann Intern Med. 2023 Nov;176(11):1498-1507. doi: 10.7326/M23-1603. Epub 2023 Oct 31.
PMID: 37903365BACKGROUNDLi F, Harmer P, Eckstrom E, Winters-Stone K. Physical Activity Engagement After Tai Ji Quan Intervention Among Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Memory Concerns: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Dec 2;7(12):e2450457. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.50457.
PMID: 39688866DERIVEDLi F, Harmer P, Fitzgerald K, Winters-Stone K. A cognitively enhanced online Tai Ji Quan training intervention for community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A feasibility trial. BMC Geriatr. 2022 Jan 25;22(1):76. doi: 10.1186/s12877-021-02747-0.
PMID: 35078407DERIVED
Related Links
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Limitations and Caveats
Limitations of the trial included (a) the lack of a nonexercise control group and (b) participants who were predominately White and well educated which limits the generalizability of these reports.
Results Point of Contact
- Title
- Fuzhong Li
- Organization
- Oregon Research Institute
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Fuzhong Li, Ph.D.
Oregon Research Institute
Publication Agreements
- PI is Sponsor Employee
- No
- Restrictive Agreement
- No
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- PREVENTION
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
August 26, 2019
First Posted
August 28, 2019
Study Start
October 15, 2019
Primary Completion
November 30, 2023
Study Completion
December 30, 2025
Last Updated
August 26, 2025
Results First Posted
August 26, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-08
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share
The individual level data in this study will not be shared with others for reasons of confidentiality. However, a dataset with identifiable private information removed may be made available to other researchers.