Effects of Mindfulness-Based Tai Chi Chuan on Physical Performance and Cognitive Function among Cognitive Frailty Older Adults: A Six-Month Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based Tai Chi Chuan on physical performance and cognitive function among cognitive frailty older adults.

Design: A single-blind,three-arm randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Three communities in Daqing, China.

Participants: The study sample comprised 93 men and women aged 65 years or older who were able to walk more than 10 m without helping tools, scored 0.5 on Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) and absence of concurrent dementia, identified pre-frailty (scored 1-2 on Fried Frailty Criteria) and frailty older adults (scored 3-5 on Fried Frailty Criteria).

Intervention: Subjects were randomly allocated to three groups: Group1, which received mindfulness intervention (formal and informal mindfulness practices); Group 2, which received Tai-Chi Chuan intervention; Group 3, which received MTCC intervention.

Measurements: The primary outcomes was cognitive frailty rate(measured by Fried Frailty Criteria and Clinical Dementia Rating-CDR) , the secondary outcome were cognitive function (measured by Min-Mental State Examination-MMES) and physical level (measured by Short physical performance battery- SPPB, Timed up and Go test-TUG and the 30-second Chair test). They were all assessed at Time 1-baseline, Time 2-after the end of 6-month intervention and the follow up (Time 3-half year after the end of 6-month intervention).

Results: The baseline characteristics did not differ among the groups.Improvements in the cognitive function (MMES), physical performance (SPPB, TUG, 30-second Chair test) were significantly difference between time-group interaction (p<.05). The rate of CF was significantly different among groups at 6-month follow-up period (χ2=6.37, p<.05). A lower prevalence of frailty and better cognitive function and physical performance were found in the Group 3 compared with other two groups at the follow-up period (p<.05).

Conclusions: MTCC seems to be effectively reverse CF, improving the cognitive and physical function among older adults, suggesting that MTCC is a preferably intervention option in community older adults with cognitive frailty.

Keywords: Cognitive frailty; Tai Chi; cognitive; mindfulness; physical.