Xiao Tao, Yang Lin, Smith Lee, Loprinzi Paul D, Veronese Nicola, Yao Jie, Zhang Zonghao, Yu Jane Jie
College of Mathematics and Statistics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Front Psychol. 2020 Apr 6;11:668. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00668. eCollection 2020.
Age-associated decline in cognition and balance may cause severe ability loss for daily living activities among middle-aged and older adults. The relationship between cognition and balance in this aging population remains to be explored.
The present study Is exploratory in nature and aimed to examine the relationship between balance (both static and dynamic components) and global cognitive function among middle-aged and older adults through Tai Chi (TC) practice as a research avenue.
A short-term (12 weeks) intervention of TC was conducted among middle-aged and older adults in the community setting. Global cognitive function (using the Chinese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score (MoCA) and balance (i.e., one leg standing test score; Timed Up and Go Test score, TUGT) of all participants were assessed before and after the intervention. Age, body mass index (BMI), sex, and physical fitness variables (Chair Stand Test, CST; the 6-Meter Walk Test, 6MWT) were also collected as confounding factors.
Significant moderator effects of baseline CST on the association between the dichotomized baseline MoCA score and the baseline left leg balance score ( = 0.0247), the baseline right leg balance score ( = 0.0140) and the baseline TUGT score ( = 0.0346) were found. Change score of left score balance ( = 0.0192) and change score of TUGT ( = 0.0162) were found to be significantly associated with change score of cognitive function.
Cognitive function and balance are interrelated in middle-aged and older adults. The association between global cognitive function and balance Is moderated by strength of lower limbs. The change scores of cognitive function and balance introduced by TC training were found to be positively correlated. Future research Is warranted to further confirm the cause-effect relationship of cognitive function and balance and its influencing factors among middle-aged and older adults utilizing intervention studies with larger sample sizes.
认知和平衡能力随年龄下降可能导致中老年人群日常生活活动能力严重丧失。这一年龄段人群中认知与平衡之间的关系仍有待探索。
本研究具有探索性质，旨在通过太极拳练习这一研究途径，探讨中老年人群平衡能力（包括静态和动态成分）与整体认知功能之间的关系。
在社区环境中对中老年人群进行了为期12周的太极拳干预。在干预前后对所有参与者的整体认知功能（使用中文版蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MoCA）评分）和平衡能力（即单腿站立测试得分；计时起立行走测试得分，TUGT）进行评估。还收集了年龄、体重指数（BMI）、性别和身体素质变量（椅子站立测试，CST；6米步行测试，6MWT）作为混杂因素。
发现基线CST对二分法基线MoCA评分与基线左腿平衡评分（=0.0247）、基线右腿平衡评分（=0.0140）和基线TUGT评分（=0.0346）之间的关联具有显著的调节作用。发现左腿平衡变化得分（=0.0192）和TUGT变化得分（=0.0162）与认知功能变化得分显著相关。
中老年人群的认知功能和平衡能力相互关联。整体认知功能与平衡之间的关联受下肢力量调节。发现太极拳训练带来的认知功能和平衡能力变化得分呈正相关。未来有必要通过更大样本量的干预研究进一步证实中老年人群认知功能与平衡之间的因果关系及其影响因素。
