Department of Health Promotion and Rehabilitation, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania; Institute of Sports Science and Innovations, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Department of Health Promotion and Rehabilitation, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania; Institute of Sports Science and Innovations, Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Exp Gerontol. 2021 Jul 15;150:111363. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111363. Epub 2021 Apr 19.
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a 10-week tai chi intervention on psychoemotional state, cognition, and motor learning in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants aged 60-78 years were randomized to either a control group (n = 15) or a tai chi group (n = 15) for a 10-week period. The tai chi group received two, 8-form tai chi classes of 60 min duration per week. Changes in psychoemotional state, cognition, and the learning of fast and accurate reaching movements were assessed. In addition, the potential roles of the autonomic nervous system and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were investigated. Tai chi practice decreased (P < 0.05) perceived stress, whereas no change in autonomic nervous system activity was observed. Improvements in mental switching correlated with decreased depressive symptoms and increased BDNF levels (P < 0.05), whereas improvements in inhibitory control tended to correlate with BDNF levels (P = 0.08). Improvements in visuospatial processing tended to correlate with decreased depressive symptoms (P = 0.07) while improved visuospatial processing correlated with improved motor planning during learning tasks (P < 0.05). This study suggests that tai chi is an effective intervention that can be delivered under pandemic conditions to improve mental and physical function in older adults.
这项研究的目的是确定在 COVID-19 大流行期间，为期 10 周的太极干预对老年人的心理情绪状态、认知和运动学习的影响。60-78 岁的参与者被随机分为对照组（n = 15）或太极组（n = 15），进行为期 10 周的干预。太极组每周接受两次，每次 60 分钟的 8 式太极课程。评估心理情绪状态、认知以及快速准确的伸手运动学习的变化。此外，还研究了自主神经系统和脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）的潜在作用。太极练习降低了（P < 0.05）感知压力，而自主神经系统活动没有变化。心理转换能力的提高与抑郁症状的减轻和 BDNF 水平的升高相关（P < 0.05），而抑制控制能力的提高则与 BDNF 水平呈正相关（P = 0.08）。视空间加工能力的提高与抑郁症状的减轻呈正相关（P = 0.07），而运动学习任务中视空间加工能力的提高与运动计划能力的提高呈正相关（P < 0.05）。本研究表明，太极是一种有效的干预措施，可以在大流行期间实施，以改善老年人的身心功能。
