Baduanjin Mind-Body Intervention Improves the Executive Control Function

How traditional Chinese exercise (Daoyin) can help COVID-19 patients relieve psychological symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

The mental health issues of individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are currently widespread. Traditional Chinese exercise (Daoyin) plays an important role in relieving patients' psychological problems. This study aims to assess the efficacy of Daoyin in mitigating mental health issues among individuals diagnosed with COVID-19.

Methods

PubMed, the Cochrane library, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP database, and SinoMed were searched from their inception to October 2023. Two researchers independently selected the eligible studies. The analysis and presentation of the findings were conducted using Review Manager 5.2 software. The data were analyzed using mean difference (MD), inverse variance, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

A total of 12 studies (N = 1291) were included in this study. The results showed that Daoyin can significantly reduce the scores of the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS: MD = -13.03, 95% CI -19.56 to -6.49, P<.49,yca Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS: MD = -11.13, 95% CI -14.56 to -7.71, P<.71,sion Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI: MD = -2.00, 95% CI -5.43 to 1.43, P = 0.25), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA: MD = -2.42, 95% CI -5.25 to 0.41, P = 0.09), and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD: MD = -11.17, 95% CI -25.5 to 3.15, P = 0.13).

Conclusion

In COVID-19 patients, Daoyin can alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression, as well as improve sleep quality. The use of Daoyin has no adverse effects and side effects and can reduce the cost of medication. Therefore, Daoyin can be widely promoted. Further research is warranted to analyze the effect of Daoyin on mental health.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#recordDetails, identifier CRD42023391845.

The Effect of Long-Term Learning of BaduanJin on Emotion Regulation: Evidence from Resting-State Frontal EEG Asymmetry

Purpose

Baduanjin, as a Chinese traditional fitness exercise, can help people regulate emotions and promote their physical and psychological health. However, the underlying neural mechanisms have not been thoroughly explored. This study aimed to examine the effects of differences in the level of Baduanjin learning on individuals' brain and psychological response related to emotion regulation.

Methods

Twenty-two participants with long-term Baduanjin learning (for more than one year), and 21 participants with short-term Baduanjin learning (for approximately three months) were recruited. All participants were asked to do a complete 12-minute set of Baduanjin. Before and after doing Baduanjin, their resting-state EEG signals were collected, besides, the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and the Profile of Mood States-Short Form (POMS-SF) were used to assess participants' emotion regulation strategies and abilities.

Results

The results of psychological measurement indicated that participants in the long-term group were more likely to use cognitive reappraisal as an emotion regulation strategy compared to participants in the short-term group (p<0.05). Moreover, the analysis of the frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) showed that participants in the long-term group rather than the short-term group exhibited significant left lateralization after doing Baduanjin (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The findings provide preliminary evidence for the neural mechanism underlying how long-term Baduanjin learning promotes individuals' emotion regulation indexed by FAA. The study provides a new paradigm for research on how Baduanjin affects emotional regulation.

Exercise promotes brain health: a systematic review of fNIRS studies

Exercise can induce brain plasticity. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a functional neuroimaging technique that exploits cerebral hemodynamics and has been widely used in the field of sports psychology to reveal the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of exercise. However, most existing fNIRS studies are cross-sectional and do not include exercise interventions. In addition, attributed to differences in experimental designs, the causal relationship between exercise and brain functions remains elusive. Hence, this systematic review aimed to determine the effects of exercise interventions on alterations in brain functional activity in healthy individuals using fNIRS and to determine the applicability of fNIRS in the research design of the effects of various exercise interventions on brain function. Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, and Weipu databases were searched for studies published up to June 15, 2021. This study was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Two investigators independently selected articles and extracted relevant information. Disagreements were resolved by discussion with another author. Quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias method. Data were pooled using random-effects models. A total of 29 studies were included in the analysis. Our results indicated that exercise interventions alter oxygenated hemoglobin levels in the prefrontal cortex and motor cortex, which are associated with improvements in higher cognitive functions (e.g., inhibitory control and working memory). The frontal cortex and motor cortex may be key regions for exercise-induced promotion of brain health. Future research is warranted on fluctuations in cerebral blood flow during exercise to elucidate the neural mechanism underlying the effects of exercise. Moreover, given that fNIRS is insensitive to motion, this technique is ideally suited for research during exercise interventions. Important factors include the study design, fNIRS device parameters, and exercise protocol. The examination of cerebral blood flow during exercise intervention is a future research direction that has the potential to identify cortical hemodynamic changes and elucidate the relationship between exercise and cognition. Future studies can combine multiple study designs to measure blood flow prior to and after exercise and during exercise in a more in-depth and comprehensive manner.

Intervention of muscle-building and antifrailty exercise combined with Baduanjin for frailty of different functional levels: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Frailty has been currently considered as a multidimensional concept, including physical, cognitive and social frailty. Frailty has also been associated with a range of adverse events, which might increase the risks of disability, falls, fractures, delirium and death. Increasing evidence has shown that multicomponent exercise training can improve physical and cognitive function, delay or reverse frailty. However, there is still a lack of exercise intervention programmes for the frail older adults in China. This trial aims to investigate the effects of the muscle-building and antifrailty exercise combined with Baduanjin on the physical function of frail older adults, as well as the effectiveness and safety of the intervention.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study is a prospective randomised controlled trial. A total of 192 patients, aged 70 years or older, who are diagnosed as prefrailty or frailty based on the Fried criteria will be included. Prior written and informed consent will be obtained from every subject. These subjects will be randomly assigned to the exercise intervention group (n=96) and the control group (n=96). The exercise intervention group will undergo different exercise programmes for different levels of physical function. They will perform the muscle-building and antifrailty exercise three times per week for 30-60 min for 24 weeks. The control group will implement health education on frailty and maintain the old lifestyle without any intervention.The primary outcomes include the change in frailty and functional capacity, assessed according to the Fried Scale and the Short Physical Performance Battery. Secondary outcomes include the changes in body composition, Activities of daily living, Mini-Mental State Examination, The Geriatric Depression Scale-15 and the haematological indicators.

ETHICS STATEMENT

The study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the PLA General Hospital (approval no.: S2022-600-02).

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2300070535.

A single 1,500 m freestyle at maximal speed decreases cognitive function in athletes

Introduction

Physical exercise can improve cognitive function, and the degree of impact on cognitive function is related to exercise modality, intensity, and duration. However, few studies have been conducted on the effects of competitive sports on cognitive function. The 1,500 m freestyle is the longest pool-based swimming event in the Olympic Games. This study explores the effects of 1,500 m freestyle at maximal speed on athletes' cognitive function and analyzes the potential mechanism of cognitive function reduction in freestyle at maximal speed from the perspective of hemoglobin oxygenation difference (Hbdiff).

Methods

A total of 13 male university swimmers were required to take part in a 1,500 m freestyle competition, swimming at maximal speed. The relevant indicators, including cognitive function and freestyle at maximal speed, before and after the competition were tested and analyzed. Cognitive function was assessed using the Schulte grid test (SGT), the trail-making test (TMT), and the digit span test (DST). The neurobiological characteristics of cognitive function, such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC), response time (RT), and accuracy rate (ACC), were tested using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Results

A significant decrease in scores for SGT, TMT, and digit span test-backward (DST-B) (p < 0.01). Oxygenated hemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) concentrations in the right frontopolar area (R-FPA) of brain channels 8 (p < 0.01) and 9 (CH8, 9) (p < 0.05), the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (R-DLPFC) CH10 (p < 0.05), and the middle dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (M-DLPFC) CH18 (p < 0.01) were significantly altered, and the right area of the brain was activated. The total Oxy-Hb concentrations in the regions of interest (ROIs) of R-FPA, R-DLFPC, and M-DLFPC were changed significantly (p < 0.01).

Discussion

The exhaustive performance of a 1,500 m freestyle event resulted in both physical fatigue and a decline in cognitive function. This decline may be attributed to the activation of specific regions of interest, namely the FPA, DLPFC, and M-DLPFC, within the prefrontal cortex (PFC), as well as alterations in functional connectivity.

The Effects of Exercise on Synaptic Plasticity in Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment: Protocol for a Pilot Intervention Study

BACKGROUND

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a syndrome preceding more severe impairment characterized by dementia. MCI affects an estimated 15% to 20% of people older than 65 years. Nonpharmacological interventions including exercise are recommended as part of overall MCI management based on the positive effects of exercise on cognitive performance. Interval training involves brief intermittent bouts of exercise interspersed with short recovery periods. This type of exercise promotes cognitive improvement and can be performed in individuals with MCI. Synaptic plasticity can be assessed in vivo by the neurophysiological response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). A method to assess synaptic plasticity uses an intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), which is a patterned form of rTMS. Individuals with MCI have decreased responses to iTBS, reflecting reduced synaptic plasticity. It is unknown whether interval training causes changes in synaptic plasticity in individuals living with MCI.

OBJECTIVE

This research will determine whether interval training performed using a cycle ergometer enhances synaptic plasticity in individuals with MCI. The three aims are to (1) quantify synaptic plasticity after interval training performed at a self-determined intensity in individuals with MCI; (2) determine whether changes in synaptic plasticity correlate with changes in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, osteocalcin, and cognition; and (3) assess participant compliance to the exercise schedule.

METHODS

24 individuals diagnosed with MCI will be recruited for assignment to 1 of the 2 equally sized groups: exercise and no exercise. The exercise group will perform exercise 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Synaptic plasticity will be measured before and following the 4-week intervention. At these time points, synaptic plasticity will be measured as the response to single-pulse TMS, reflected as the percent change in the average amplitude of 20 motor-evoked potentials before and after an iTBS rTMS protocol, which is used to induce synaptic plasticity. In addition, individuals will complete a battery of cognitive assessments and provide a blood sample from the antecubital vein to determine serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and osteocalcin.

RESULTS

The study began in September 2023.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed research is the first to assess whether synaptic plasticity is enhanced after exercise training in individuals with MCI. If exercise does indeed modify synaptic plasticity, this will create a new avenue by which we can study and manipulate neural plasticity in these individuals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05663918; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05663918.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/50030.

Effects of mind-body exercise Baduanjin on cognition in community-dwelling older people with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of a 6-month traditional Chinese mind-body Baduanjin exercise intervention on cognitive ability in older people with Mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

METHODS

A total of 135 community-dwelling seniors with MCI were randomized into either the Baduanjin group (BDJ), the brisk walking group (BWK) or the usual physical activity control group (UPA). Cognitive ability was assessed at baseline, 2, 4 and 6 months post-intervention, and 3 months after the intervention ended.

RESULTS

After 6 months of intervention, the MoCA score of the BDJ group was significantly higher than that of the UPA group (P < 0.05), The Go/No-go correct numbers of the BDJ group and BWK group were significantly higher than those of the UPA group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in other outcomes, or there were only a tiny effect size. Three months after the intervention, there was no significant difference between the primary and secondary outcomes(P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The 6-month period of Baduanjin training has positive benefits on global cognitive function and attention function in community-dwelling elderly individuals with MCI. The effect seems to have been transient and needs to be confirmed by additional studies.

Effects of mind-body exercise on cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A meta-analysis study

BACKGROUND

To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of physical and mental exercise on cognitive performance in middle-aged people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

METHODS

Computer searches of PubMed, Web of science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biomedical Literature Service, Wanfang database, China Knowledge Network, and VIP full-text database of Veep journals were conducted to obtain clinical randomized controlled trials on physical and mental exercise interventions in middle-aged and elderly people with MCI. The literature was screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the final included literature was subjected to data extraction and risk of bias assessment. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4.1 software, and publication bias test was performed using stata17.0 software.

RESULTS

A total of 27 publications with a total of 2565 cases of elderly people with MCI were included. The control group was conventional care, health education, or blank control, and the physical and mental exercise group was exercises including Tai Chi, dance, orthopraxia, and qigong for 30 to 90 minutes each time, 3 to 6 times per week, for a total duration of 8 to 36 weeks. Meta-analysis results showed that Montreal cognitive assessment scores (mean difference [MD] = 2.33, 95% CI [1.55, 3.10], P < .00001), the mini-mental state examination score (MD = 1.73, 95% CI [0.60, 2.86], P = .003), trail making test-A score (MD = -4.00, 95% CI [-6.75, -1.25], P = .004), trail making test-B score (MD = -18.46, 95% CI [-23.87, -13.06], P < .00001), global deterioration scale score (MD = -0.72, 95% CI [-1.09, -0.34], P = .0002), Wechsler Logical Memory Scale score (MD = 2.07, 95% CI [0.03, 4.10], P = .05), berg score (MD = -0.70, 95% CI [0.32, 1.07], P < .0003), cerebrospinal fluid Tau protein level (MD = -166.69, 95% CI [-196.93, -136.45], P < .00001), and cerebrospinal fluid levels of αβ1-42 protein (MD = 180.39, 95% CI [134.24, 226.55], P < .00001).

CONCLUSION

Mind-body exercise can improve cognitive performance, depressive status, and balance as well as increase αβ1-42 protein levels and decrease Tau protein levels in middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Effect of a Baduanjin intervention on the risk of falls in the elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Falls are a global public problem and may be an important cause of death in older adults. However, older adults with mild cognitive impairment(MCI) are more likely to fall and suffer more damage than older adults with normal cognitive function, which shows the importance of preventing falls. More and more evidence shows that Baduanjin can improve the balance function of the elderly and reduce the risk of falls in the elderly with MCI, but the mechanism is still unclear. The main purpose of this study is to verify the intervention effect of Baduanjin training on the risk of falls in elderly people with MCI and to elucidate the underlying mechanism of Baduanjin training in reducing the risk of falls in MCI patients.

METHODS

In this prospective study, outcome assessor-blind, three-arm randomized controlled trial, a total of 72 eligible participants will be randomly allocated (1:1:1) into the 12-week Baduanjin exercise intervention (60 min per session, three sessions per week), the 12-week brisk walking group(60 min per session, three sessions per week) or the 12-week health education group. Primary outcome is the Fall-Risk Self-Assessment Questionnaire(FRQ), and secondary outcomes are fall efficacy index, gait assessment, balance function, lower limb muscle strength, cognitive function, activities of daily living(ADL) and MRI scans. In addition to the MRI scans, which will be measured before and after the intervention,other primary and secondary outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks (at the end of the intervention) and after an additional 12-week follow-up period. The mixed linear model will be conducted to observe the intervention effects.

DISCUSSION

This trial will investigate the effect of Baduanjin exercise on the prevention of falls in elderly individuals with MCI, explore the imaging mechanism of Baduanjin exercise to reduce the risk of falls in elderly individuals with MCI from the perspective of vestibular neural network, and provide strong evidence for Baduanjin exercise to reduce the risk of falls in elderly individuals with MCI, as well as provide new ideas and approaches for the central mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TRC) rehabilitation methods to intervene in falls in elderly.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chictr.org.cn, ID: ChiCTR2200057520. Registered on 14 March 2022, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=146592 .

Prefrontal oxygenation and working memory in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus following integrated yoga: a randomized controlled trial

AIMS

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) alters brain functional and structural connectivity leading to cognitive dysfunction. This study examined the effect of a 12-week yoga intervention on prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation and working memory in patients with T2DM.

METHODS

Fifty participants were randomized into yoga and waitlist control groups. The yoga protocol specific to T2DM was followed. The pre- (day 1), mid- (6 weeks) and post-intervention (12 weeks) assessments included measurement of PFC oxygenation while performing working memory tasks (n-back) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

RESULTS

Following a 12-week intervention, the yoga group showed improved performance in working memory [accuracy (geometric mean difference of 3.15%, 95% CI [2.33,3.96], p = 0.001) and reaction time (mean difference of 100.8 milliseconds,95% CI [- 166.6, - 35.1], p = 0.002] in the high task load (2-back) associated with higher oxygenation in dorsolateral PFC (β coefficient mean difference of 95.6, 95% CI [0.23,191], p = 0.049) and ventrolateral PFC (β coefficient mean difference of 53.4, 95% CI [7.8,98.9], p = 0.018) regions. Higher oxygenation in dorsolateral PFC during 2-back task was positively correlated with accuracy (r(23) = 0.65, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with reaction time (r(23) =  - 0.47,p = 0.017).

CONCLUSION

Integrated yoga practice may improve working memory performance associated with higher PFC oxygenation in patients with T2DM. As 12 weeks of yoga intervention improved working memory performance, the regular practice of yoga may have the potential to prevent decline of cognitive functions in clinical conditions.

An evolutionary account of impairment of self in cognitive disorders

Recent research has proposed that certain aspects of psychosis, as experienced in, e.g., schizophrenia (SCZ), but also aspects of other cognitive conditions, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and synesthesia, can be related to a shattered sense of the notion of self. In this paper, our goal is to show that altered processing of self can be attributed to an abnormal functioning of cortico-striatal brain networks supporting, among other, one key human distinctive cognitive ability, namely cross-modality, which plays multiple roles in human cognition and language. Specifically, our hypothesis is that this cognitive mechanism sheds light both on some basic aspects of the minimal self and on some aspects related to higher forms of self, such as the narrative self. We further link the atypical functioning in these conditions to some recent evolutionary changes in our species, specifically, an atypical presentation of human self-domestication (HSD) features. In doing so, we also lean on previous work concerning the link between cognitive disorders and language evolution under the effects of HSD. We further show that this approach can unify both linguistic and non-linguistic symptoms of these conditions through deficits in the notion of self. Our considerations provide further support for the hypothesis that SCZ and ASD are diametrically opposed cognitive conditions, as well for the hypothesis that their etiology is associated with recent human evolution, leading to a deeper understanding of the causes and symptoms of these disorders, and providing new cues, which can be used for an earlier and more accurate diagnostics.

Impact of a cognitive stimulation program on the reading comprehension of children in primary education

Introduction

At present, numerous studies can be found in which influences and relationships between the principal executive functions, reading comprehension, and academic performance associated with reading are reported. However, there is still a lack of convergence regarding the impact of computerized cognitive training on children's executive development and its transfer in academic reading performance and comprehension of written texts.

Methods

This study analyzes the effect of implementing a cognitive stimulation program on the performance of reading comprehension and academic performance in the subject of Spanish Language and Literature. To this end, a total sample of 196 children from 23 educational centers received the cognitive intervention for 8 weeks, with three weekly sessions of between 15 and 20 min each occurring on non-consecutive days. Pre-test and post-test measurements were collected and analyzed.

Results

The results demonstrate a significant increase in the reading comprehension scores. In addition, a significant impact of the training on the participants' academic performance in the subject Spanish Language and Literature was found.

Discussion

These results highlight the usefulness of computerized cognitive stimulation programs for reading comprehension enhancement.

The influence of exercise interventions on cognitive functions in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

Patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) are more likely to develop dementia compared to patients with non-aMCI (naMCI). Among the mixed samples of aMCI and naMCI, exercise interventions are effective for patients with MCI to improve cognitive functions. However, the influence of exercise interventions on patients with aMCI is still unclear.

Objective

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the influence of exercise interventions on cognitive functions in patients with aMCI.

Methods

Four literature databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library) and three Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and China Science and Technology Journal Database) were searched from their inception to August 31, 2022. Based on the preliminary search of seven databases and their cited references, a total of 2,290 records were identified. Finally, 10 studies with a total of 28 data points involving 575 participants with aMCI were included in this meta-analysis. If the measurements of outcomes were different among studies, the effect size was synthesized using the standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). If the measurements were the same, the weight mean difference (WMD) with a 95% CI was used to integrate the effect size.

Data synthesis

The results showed that exercise interventions had no significant effects on improving several specific domains of cognitive functions including working memory (WMD = -0.05; 95% CI = -0.74 to 0.63; p = 0.88; I ² = 78%) and attention (SMD = 0.20; 95% CI = -0.31 to 0.72; p = 0.44; I ² = 60%). Additionally, exercise interventions had a significant effect on global cognitive function (SMD = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.50-0.90; p < 0.00001; I ² = 29%) and some specific cognitive domains including immediate recall (SMD = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.28-0.81; p < 0.0001; I ² = 0%), delayed recall (SMD = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.45-0.87; p < 0.00001; I ² = 37%), and executive function (SMD = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.16-0.60; p= 0.0006; I ² = 4%). Furthermore, subgroup analysis based on the intervention forms indicated that multi-component interventions (SMD = 0.44; 95% CI = 0.11-0.77; p = 0.009; I ² = 0%) appeared to be less effective than the single-component intervention (SMD = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.60-1.10; p < 0.00001; I ² = 10%) in terms of boosting global cognitive function.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis suggests that the exercise can help patients with aMCI improve global cognitive function. And exercise interventions have positive influence on enhancing several specific cognitive domains such as immediate recall, delayed recall, and executive function.Systematic review registration: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42022354235.

Effects of qigong exercise on the physical and mental health of college students: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Physical and mental health problems are becoming more serious among college students due to lifestyle changes and increased academic stress. Qigong exercise has been regarded as a potentially effective intervention to improve the physical and mental health of college students.

METHODS

Eleven databases were searched from their respective inception dates to April 2022. Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Physical and psychological conditions, including limb muscle strength, flexibility, cardiorespiratory endurance, vital capacity, blood pressure and heart rate, as well as depression, anxiety and mood, were evaluated. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration tool.

RESULTS

Sixteen randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. Significant improvements in cardiorespiratory endurance (MD = 3.83, 95% CI: 0.99 to 6.67, P = 0.008) and flexibility (MD = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.21 to 4.81, P = 0.001) were observed. We also observed that Qigong exercise significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms (SMD=-0.89, 95% CI: -1.17 to -0.61, P < 0.00001; SMD=-0.78, 95% CI: -1.31 to -0.25, P = 0.004). Nevertheless, no significant effects on muscle strength, vital capacity, blood pressure, heart rate or mood were found.

CONCLUSION

Qigong exercise was advantageous for college students in terms of improving flexibility and cardiorespiratory endurance and alleviating depression and anxiety to some extent. However, due to the limited number of eligible trials and the low methodological quality, more well-designed RCTs are needed in the future.

Effects of Baduanjin imagery and exercise on cognitive function in the elderly: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

Objective

Cognitive function is essential in ensuring the quality of life of the elderly. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Baduanjin imagery and Baduanjin movement (a traditional Chinese health exercise, TCHE) on cognitive function in the elderly using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Methods

72 participants with a mean age of 66.92 years (SD = 4.77) were recruited for this study. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups: the Baduanjin imagery, the Baduanjin exercise, and the Control. Stroop task was used to record the accuracy and reaction times, and a near-infrared spectral brain imaging system was used to monitor the brain's oxy-hemoglobin concentration responses.

Results

(1) For the reaction times of Stroop incongruent tasks, the main effect of the test phase (F = 114.076, p < 0.001) and the interaction effect between test phase and group (F = 10.533, p < 0.001) were all significant. The simple effect analysis further demonstrated that the reaction times of the Baduanjin imagery group and Baduanjin exercise group in the post-test was faster than that in the pre-test (ps < 0.001); (2) Analysis of fNIRS data showed the significant interaction effect (F = 2.554, p = 0.013) between the test phase and group in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Further analysis showed that, during the post-test incongruent tasks, the oxy-Hb variations were significantly higher in participants of the Baduanjin imagery group (p = 0.005) and Baduanjin exercise group (p = 0.002) than in the control group; For the right inferior frontal gyrus, the interaction between the test phase and group was significant (F = 2.060, p = 0.044). Further analysis showed that, during the post-test incongruent tasks, the oxy-Hb variations were significantly higher in participants of the Baduanjin imagery group than in the control group (p = 0.001).

Conclusion

Baduanjin imagery and exercise positively affect cognitive performance; Baduanjin imagery and exercise activated the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; Baduanjin imagery activated the right inferior frontal gyrus, while Baduanjin exercise could not.

Determining Whether Tai Chi Chuan Is Related to the Updating Function in Older Adults: Differences Between Practitioners and Controls

Background

Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is an effective method for delaying cognitive decline in older adults. However, in older adults, the association between long-term TCC practice and working memory updating has not been extensively studied.

Objective

This cross-sectional study investigated how updating function operationalized via Reaction Times (RTs) and Accuracy Rates (ARs) of N-Back tasks being measured in a laboratory setting is related to long term practice of TCC.

Methods

Twenty-six healthy elderly people participated in this experiment. According to the duration of time TCC was practiced, 13 subjects in the TCC group had more than 5 years of experience with TCC exercise, and 13 elderly subjects who had not been systematically exposed to mind-body exercise were assigned to the control group. The N-back task was administered to every participant to evaluate the updating function.

Results

The TCC group had faster RTs than the control group (p < 0.05). For the 1-back task, the TCC group showed faster RTs than the control group; for the 2-back task, the TCC group exhibited faster RTs than the control group. The TCC group had higher ARs than the control group (p < 0.05). For the 1-back task, the TCC group showed higher ARs than the control group; for the 2-back task, the TCC group exhibited higher ARs than the control group.

Conclusions

Long-term TCC practitioners exhibit a better updating function as compared to controls who did not practice TCC. Thus, our findings suggest that long-term TCC positively influences the updating function of older adults, making it, in turn, an effective mind-body exercise to maintain specific aspects of cognitive functioning.

Development and testing of an instrument to measure contextual factors influencing self-care decisions among adults with chronic illness

Background

Decisions about how to manage bothersome symptoms of chronic illness are complex and influenced by factors related to the patient, their illness, and their environment. Naturalistic decision-making describes decision-making when conditions are dynamically evolving, and the decision maker may be uncertain because the situation is ambiguous and missing information. Contextual factors, including time stress, the perception of high stakes, and input from others may facilitate or complicate decisions about the self-care of symptoms. There is no valid instrument to measure these contextual factors. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a self-report instrument measuring the contextual factors that influence self-care decisions about symptoms.

Methods

Items were drafted from the literature and refined with patient input. Content validity of the instrument was evaluated using a Delphi survey of expert clinicians and researchers, and cognitive interviews with adults with chronic illness. Psychometric testing included exploratory factor analysis to test dimensionality, item response theory-based approaches for item recalibration, confirmatory factor analysis to generate factor determinacy scores, and evaluation of construct validity.

Results

Ten contextual factors influencing decision-making were identified and multiple items per factor were generated. Items were refined based on cognitive interviews with five adults with chronic illness. After a two round Delphi survey of expert clinicians (n = 12) all items had a content validity index of > 0.78. Five additional adults with chronic illness endorsed the relevance, comprehensiveness, and comprehensibility of the inventory during cognitive interviews. Initial psychometric testing (n = 431) revealed a 6-factor multidimensional structure that was further refined for precision, and high multidimensional reliability (0.864). In construct validity testing, there were modest associations with some scales of the Melbourne Decision Making Questionnaire and the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory.

Conclusion

The Self-Care Decisions Inventory is a 27-item self-report instrument that measures the extent to which contextual factors influence decisions about symptoms of chronic illness. The six scales (external, urgency, uncertainty, cognitive/affective, waiting/cue competition, and concealment) reflect naturalistic decision making, have excellent content validity, and demonstrate high multidimensional reliability. Additional testing of the instrument is needed to evaluate clinical utility.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12955-022-01990-2.

A comparison of methods to address item non-response when testing for differential item functioning in multidimensional patient-reported outcome measures

PURPOSE

Item non-response (i.e., missing data) may mask the detection of differential item functioning (DIF) in patient-reported outcome measures or result in biased DIF estimates. Non-response can be challenging to address in ordinal data. We investigated an unsupervised machine-learning method for ordinal item-level imputation and compared it with commonly-used item non-response methods when testing for DIF.

METHODS

Computer simulation and real-world data were used to assess several item non-response methods using the item response theory likelihood ratio test for DIF. The methods included: (a) list-wise deletion (LD), (b) half-mean imputation (HMI), (c) full information maximum likelihood (FIML), and (d) non-negative matrix factorization (NNMF), which adopts a machine-learning approach to impute missing values. Control of Type I error rates were evaluated using a liberal robustness criterion for α = 0.05 (i.e., 0.025-0.075). Statistical power was assessed with and without adoption of an item non-response method; differences > 10% were considered substantial.

RESULTS

Type I error rates for detecting DIF using LD, FIML and NNMF methods were controlled within the bounds of the robustness criterion for > 95% of simulation conditions, although the NNMF occasionally resulted in inflated rates. The HMI method always resulted in inflated error rates with 50% missing data. Differences in power to detect moderate DIF effects for LD, FIML and NNMF methods were substantial with 50% missing data and otherwise insubstantial.

CONCLUSION

The NNMF method demonstrated comparable performance to commonly-used non-response methods. This computationally-efficient method represents a promising approach to address item-level non-response when testing for DIF.

Executive Function Improvement for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comparative Study between Virtual Training and Physical Exercise Methods

This study evaluated and compared the effects of virtual training and physical exercise on the executive function of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). After screening, the final analysis of this study was conducted on three groups: a virtual training group (n = 34), a physical exercise group (n = 33), and a control group (n = 33). The experiment was conducted for nine weeks, of which the virtual training group and physical exercise group were conducted three times a week for one hour each time during the first six weeks, while the control group did not conduct virtual training nor physical exercise. During the last three weeks (week 6 to week 9), virtual training and physical exercise were not performed on all three groups. The three main components of executive function (working memory, inhibition, flexibility) of children with ASD were measured before the intervention, after the intervention (week 1 to week 6) and in the last three weeks (week 6 to week 9). The final results are that firstly, the executive function of the virtual training and physical exercise groups were simultaneously improved after the intervention. Secondly, after the intervention stopped, the executive function of the virtual training and physical exercise groups showed a downward trend. Therefore, the study concludes that the application of virtual training and physical exercise can effectively enhance the executive function of children with ASD.

The Comparative Effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine Exercise Therapies in Elderly People With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Background

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly is a health problem worldwide. Studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) exercise therapies can improve MCI. However, which therapy is the best and their impacts on brain function remain controversial and uncertain. This study aims to compare and rank TCM exercise therapies for MCI in the elderly, and analyze their effects on brain function, in order to find an optimal intervention and provide a basis for clinical treatments decision-making.

Methods

The Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Clinical Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wangfang database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Chinese Biomedical Medicine (CBM) were searched through October 28, 2021. Two researchers reviewed all the studies and extracted the data. The ADDIS software version 1.16.8 and the Bayesian hierarchical model were used for pair-wise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis, and the STATA software version 14.0 was used to draw the network evidence plots and funnel plots.

Results

A total of 23 studies on 2282 participants were included in this study. In the pair-wise meta-analysis, TCM exercise therapies (Baduanjin exercise, Tai Chi, Liuzijue exercise and finger exercise) were superior to non-TCM exercise therapies (stretching and toning exercise, usual care, health education and routine daily activities) in terms of MMSE, MoCA and ADL outcomes. In the network meta-analysis, the MMSE outcome ranked Baduanjin exercise (78%) as the best intervention and Tai Chi (36%) as the second. The MoCA outcome ranked Baduanjin exercise (62%) as the best intervention. For the ADL outcome, Baduanjin exercise (60%) ranked the best, and followed by finger exercise (43%).

Conclusion

TCM exercise therapies may improve the cognitive function in elderly patients with MCI. Among the four therapies included, the Baduanjin exercise may be the preferred therapy for MCI in the elderly, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of cognitive-related brain function and structure.

Systematic Review Registration

https://inplasy.com, identifier: INPLASY202070006.

Kindergarten-Based Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training Enhances Attention and Executive Functioning in 5-6-year-old Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

In the present study we assessed the impact of kindergarten-based progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) on attention and executive functioning of 5-6-year-old children. In this randomized-controlled trial, 52 children (26 female; 26 male; M age = 5.4, SD = 0.2 years) from two private Tunisian kindergartens were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Over 12 weeks, 18 children performed PMR in two 30-minute sessions/week, another 17 children performed generic physical education (PE) for two 30-minute sessions/week, and 17 children in a control group (CG) had no systematically guided physical activity and engaged in usual self-chosen activities like free play or artisanal activities during Kindergarten hours. Prior to (T0) and after (T1) the 12-week PMR intervention, all participants completed the Visuomotor Precision and Statue subtests of the Neuropsychological Evaluation Battery (NEPSY-2), the Teddy Bear Cancellation Test, and the Rey Simple Figure Test. While there were no significant group differences at T0, repeated measures analysis of variance revealed higher scores for the PMR group relative to both the PE and CG groups on measures of attention, visuomotor precision, memory, and motor inhibition. PMR provided an effective relaxation technique and enhanced attention and executive functioning of these 5-6-year-old children, with important implications for assisting learning and academic achievement among young children.

Effects of Baduanjin Exercise on Rehabilitation of Patients With Mild to Moderate Parkinson’s Disease

Objectives

Rehabilitation, aerobic exercise, and many traditional Chinese exercises are known to significantly improve balance in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Baduanjin, a traditional physical and mental exercise, has long been practiced for health care as it regulates organs, the nervous and motor systems.

Methods

We recruited 31 eligible participants. Patients underwent a 3-week Baduanjin program, including 35-min exercise daily. Scores on the Modified Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Non-motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS), and gait and balance tests were compared before and after the Baduanjin program.

Results

MDS-UPDRS-total (t = 4.669, P ≤ 0.001), MDS-UPDRS part-I (t = 5.805, P ≤ 0.001), MDS-UPDRS part-II (t = 5.234, P ≤ 0.001), MDS-UPDRS part-III (t = 3.274, P = 0.003), and NMSS (t = 4.815, P ≤ 0.001) scores significantly decreased after the 3-week intervention. Gait parameters like step (t = 2.289, P = 0.030) and cycle (t = 2.181, P = 0.038) durations also significantly improved, while Balance-check^® indicators, including the total score (t = −2.147, P = 0.041) and grade (t = 3.432, P = 0.002) significantly differed before and after exercise.

Conclusion

Baduanjin exercise shows beneficial effects for non-motor symptoms, balance, gait, and daily activities in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Baduanjin can be included in the patients’ family exercise, which is conducive to their rehabilitation, as well as for obtaining important social and economic benefits.

Clinical Trial Registration

[www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [ChiCTR-IPR-17011875].

Monitoring and Evaluation of Emotion Regulation by Aerobic Exercise and Motor Imagery Based on Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Objective: We sought to effectively alleviate the emotion of individuals with anxiety and depression, and explore the effects of aerobic exercise on their emotion regulation. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) brain imaging technology is used to monitor and evaluate the process of aerobic exercise and imagination that regulates emotion.

Approach:Thirty participants were scored by the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) and profile of mood states (POMS), and fNIRS images were collected before, after, and during aerobic exercise and motor imagery. Then, the oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO), deoxygenated hemoglobin (HbR), and total hemoglobin (HbT) concentrations and their average value were calculated, and the ratio of HbO concentration in the left and right frontal lobes was determined. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to calculate the correlation between variations in the average scores of the two scales and in blood oxygen concentrations.

Results: In comparison with motor imagery, STAI, and POMS scores decreased after 20 min of aerobic exercise. The prefrontal cortex had asymmetry and laterality (with the left side being dominant in emotion regulation). The increase in hemoglobin concentration recorded by fNIRS was negatively correlated with STAI and POMS scores. Aerobic exercise has a good effect on emotion regulation.

Significance:The study showed that portable fNIRS could be effectively used for monitoring and evaluating emotion regulation by aerobic exercise. This study is expected to provide ideas for constructing fNIRS-based online real-time monitoring and evaluation of emotion regulation by aerobic exercise.

The Effects of Combined Physical and Cognitive Training on Inhibitory Control: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

While strong inhibitory control is critical for health and wellbeing, there are no broadly applicable effective behavioural interventions that enhance it. This meta-analysis examined the neurocognitive rationale for combined physical and cognitive training and synthesised the rapidly growing body of evidence examining combined paradigms to enhance inhibitory control. Across the research to date, there was a small positive effect (n studies = 16, n participants = 832) of combined training on improving inhibitory control. Sub-group analyses showed small-moderate positive effects when the physical component of the combined training was moderately intense, as opposed to low or vigorous intensities; moderate positive effects were found in older adults, as compared to adolescents and adults; and healthy individuals and those with vascular cognitive impairment, as compared to ADHD, ASD, mild cognitive impairment and cancer survivors. This is the first meta-analysis to provide evidence that combined physical, specifically when moderately intense, and cognitive training has the capacity to improve inhibitory control, particularly when delivered to healthy individuals and those experiencing age-related decline.

Understanding the Benefits of Standing and Sitting Baduanjin Based on Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing: An Observational Study

Objectives: Although Baduanjin (a traditional Chinese physical activity) has been reported to promote general health, the optimal exercise intensity and kinematic characteristics of this intervention remain poorly understood. This investigation aimed to quantify and compare the exercise intensities of traditional standing Baduanjin (TB) and sitting Baduanjin (SB) using cardiopulmonary exercise testing, to further clarify the sources of the previously observed benefits of this modality. Study design: Observational study. Interventions: Healthy individuals were recruited to perform TB, SB, and cycling (in order) until they reached their ventilatory threshold. Intensity-relevant parameters based on type of exercise and specific time points (exercise start and the end of the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th set of motion) were compared between TB and SB with ventilatory threshold as control. Results: Forty individuals (18 male and 22 female) completed the trial. Significant differences in peak oxygen uptake, metabolic equivalent of task, and Borg scale existed among the three exercise types, indicating a decreasing overall exercise intensity in the order of ventilatory threshold, TB, and SB. All parameters except the respiratory exchange ratio fluctuated significantly across the time points. Conclusions: Both TB and SB resulted in a significantly lower exercise intensity when compared with the ventilatory threshold established through cycling exercise. The benefits of Baduanjin might be explained partly by its appropriate exercise intensity and intermittent intensity pattern. Baduanjin might be a potential alternative to existing schemes for exercise rehabilitation.

The Safety of Baduanjin Exercise: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

Baduanjin exercise is a form of Qigong exercise therapy that has become increasingly popular worldwide. The aims of the current systematic review were to summarize reported adverse events potentially associated with Baduanjin exercise based on currently available literature and to evaluate the quality of the methods used to monitor adverse events in the trials assessed.

METHODS

The English databases PubMed, Cochrane library, and EMbase were searched from inception to October 2020 using the keywords "Baduanjin" or "eight session brocade." Only studies that included Baduanjin exercise therapy were included.

RESULTS

Forty-seven trials with a total of 3877 participants were included in this systematic review. Twenty-two studies reported protocols for monitoring adverse events, and two studies reported the occurrence of adverse events during training. The adverse events reported included palpitation, giddiness, knee pain, backache, fatigue, nervousness, dizziness, shoulder pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and muscle ache.

CONCLUSIONS

Only two studies reported adverse events that were potentially caused by Baduanjin exercise. Adverse events related to Baduanjin exercise in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome may include muscle ache, palpitation, giddiness, knee pain, backache, fatigue, nervousness, dizziness, shoulder pain, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Further studies conducted in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials statement guideline incorporating monitoring of adverse events are recommended. Additional clinical trials in which Baduanjin exercise is used as a main intervention are needed, and further meta-analysis may be required to assess its safety and reach more informed conclusions in this regard in the future.

Differential Effects of Tai Chi Chuan (Motor-Cognitive Training) and Walking on Brain Networks: A Resting-State fMRI Study in Chinese Women Aged 60

Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether a long-term engagement in different types of physical exercise may influence resting-state brain networks differentially. In particular, we studied if there were differences in resting-state functional connectivity measures when comparing older women who are long-term practitioners of tai chi chuan or walking. Method: We recruited 20 older women who regularly practiced tai chi chuan (TCC group), and 22 older women who walked regularly (walking group). Both the TCC group and the walking group underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scan. The acquired rs-fMRI data of all participants were analyzed using independent component analysis. Age and years of education were added as co-variables. Results: There were significant differences in default network, sensory-motor network, and visual network of rs-fMRI between the TCC group and walking group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings of the current study suggested that long-term practice of different types of physical exercises (TCC vs. walking) influenced brain functional networks and brain functional plasticity of elderly women differentially. Our findings encourage further research to investigate whether those differences in resting-state functional connectivity as a function of the type of physical exercise have implications for the prevention of neurological diseases.

Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Inhibitory Control in Elderly Women: An fNIRS Study

Background

Inhibitory control is a sub-ability of executive function and plays an important role in the entire cognitive process. However, declines in inhibitory control during aging significantly impair the quality of life of elderly people. Investigating methods to delay the decline of inhibitory control has become a focal point in current research. Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is one effective method used to delay cognitive declines in older adults. However, the specific effects of TCC on inhibitory control and the mechanisms through which TCC may improve cognition in older adults have not been comprehensively investigated.

Objective

The study explores possible neurological mechanisms related to the effects of TCC interventions on inhibitory control in older people using a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technique and reaction times (RTs).

Methods

A total of 26 healthy, elderly people who had not received TCC training completed all study procedures. The subjects were randomized to either the TCC group or the control group. Subjects in the TCC group were taught TCC by a certified instructor and trained for 8 weeks. The control group continued to perform general daily activities. The Flanker task was administered to every participant to evaluate inhibitory control pre- and post-intervention. While participants were performing the Flanker task, fNIRS data were collected.

Results

Post-intervention, significant differences for incongruent flankers were found only for the TCC intervention group. Faster RTs were observed for the incongruent flankers in the TCC group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Analysis of the fNIRS data revealed an increase in oxy-Hb in the prefrontal cortex during the incongruent flankers after the TCC exercise intervention.

Conclusion

The TCC intervention significantly improved inhibitory control in older adults, suggesting that TCC is an effective, suitable exercise for improving executive function and neurological health in elderly people.

Clinical Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Register, ChiCTR1900028457.

Eight-Section Brocade Exercises Improve the Sleep Quality and Memory Consolidation and Cardiopulmonary Function of Older Adults With Atrial Fibrillation-Associated Stroke

Purpose: Poor sleep quality is harmful for everyone and potentially even more harmful for older adults with atrial fibrillation-associated stroke (AFAS). This study aims to explore the effects of eight-section brocade (ESB) on sleep quality, memory, and cardiopulmonary function in the older adults with AFAS. Methods: Older adults with AFAS and sleep disorders were recruited and divided into the ESB (EG, n = 85) and control groups (CG, general exercise, n = 85). EG patients received 60 min ESB exercises 5 times a week for 12 weeks; CG patients received normal exercise. Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores (poor sleepers ≥8 and normal sleepers < 8), memory for word pairs (poor memory ≤ 7 and normal memory > 7), left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW) thickness, and maximum ventilation (MV, to evaluate cardiopulmonary function) values were measured. The correlation between sleep and memory quality was analyzed using PSQI scores and word pairs via the Pearson correlation coefficients test. Adjusted Cox models were used to explore an interaction between PSQI and ESB exercise. Results: After 12-week exercise intervention, ESB improved sleep quality, latency, duration, disturbance and daytime dysfunction when compared to conventional exercise. In similar cases, the MV values in the EG were also higher than that in the CG (p = 0.009). ESB intervention could not affect the cardiac structure and left ventricular ejection fraction. Compared with the CG, the ESB intervention reduced PSQI scores and increased memorized word pairs (p < 0.001 for poor and normal sleepers in both unadjusted and adjusted analysis, p = 0.012 and 0.003 for poor and normal memory). The test of Pearson correlation coefficients showed that PSQI scores were strongly associated with the number of word pairs in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Eight-section brocade exercise improved sleep quality and memory consolidation and cardiopulmonary function by reducing PSQI scores, increasing word pairs and MV values in the older adults with AFAS.

Influence of acute combined physical and cognitive exercise on cognitive function: an NIRS study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of different types of acute exercise on cognitive function and cerebral oxygenation. A within-subject design was adopted. In total, 20 healthy older adults were enrolled in the study. They came to the laboratory individually on four separate days and completed four conditions of activity. Four conditions were sedentary reading control (RC), cognitive exercise (CE), physical exercise (PE) and cognitive + physical exercise (CE + PE). During these visits, participants completed the Stroop task before and immediately after the experimental condition, which consisted of 15 min of aerobic exercise, verbal fluency task (VFT), and dual task. The Stroop task included the following two conditions: a naming condition and an executive condition. The fNIRS is an optical method using near-infrared light to measure relative changes of oxygenated (O2Hb) and deoxygenated (HHb) hemoglobin in the cortex. The results indicate that acute exercise facilitates performance for executive tasks, not only combined cognition, but also the different results between combined exercise and single exercise. The fNIRS findings showed that acute single exercise influences oxygenation for executive tasks but not for naming tasks. Greater improvement was observed in the post-exercise session of combined exercise during the modified Stroop. These findings demonstrate that acute single exercise, single cognition exercise, and combined exercise enhanced the performance of the inhibition control task. Only acute combined exercise has a general facilitative effect on inhibition control. Combined exercise was shown to be superior to single exercise for task-efficient cerebral oxygenation and improved oxygen utilization during cortical activation in older individuals. Also, to maximize the performance of cognition it may be important for older adults to take part in more cognitive demand exercise or take more kinds of exercise.

Mind-body exercise improves cognitive function and modulates the function and structure of the hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex in patients with mild cognitive impairment

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a common neurological disorder. This study aims to investigate the modulation effect of Baduanjin (a popular mind-body exercise) on MCI. 69 patients were randomized to Baduanjin, brisk walking, or an education control group for 24 weeks. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans were applied at baseline and at the end of the experiment. Compared to the brisk walking and control groups, the Baduanjin group experienced significantly increased MoCA scores. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) analysis showed significantly decreased ALFF values in the right hippocampus (classic low-freqency band, 0.01-0.08 Hz) in the Baduanjin group compared to the brisk walking group and increased ALFF values in the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC, slow-5 band, 0.01-0.027 Hz) in the Baduanjin group compared to the control group. Further, ALFF value changes in the right hippocampus and bilateral ACC were significantly associated with corresponding MoCA score changes across all groups. We also found increased gray matter volume in the Baduanjin group in the right hippocampus compared to the brisk walking group and in the bilateral ACC compared to the control group. In addition, there was an increased resting state functional connectivity between the hippocampus and right angular gyrus in the Baduanjin group compared to the control group. Our results demonstrate the potential of Baduanjin for the treatment of MCI.

Looking East for Mindfulness: A Glimpse of Practices and Research on Shaolin Martial Arts and Related Practices to Advance Sport Psychology

Although mindfulness is currently receiving attention within sport psychology, there is a lack of discussion on the Eastern origins of mindfulness in the extant sport psychology literature. Several mind‒body practices linked to Chinese Chan and Shaolin martial arts are presented in this paper to illustrate their possible relevance to sport psychology. One takeaway message discussed in relation to the flow experience is that mindful performance of Shaolin martial arts is said to be integral to the psychological transformations associated with realisation of Chan (or “suchness,” satori, Enlightenment), supposedly a goal more likely to be pursued by mindfulness practitioners in the Eastern culture than in the West. Research on Dejian mind‒body intervention, dantian breathing and Shaolin internal martial arts such as Baduanjin and Yijinjing are briefly reviewed to examine the potential psychological benefits of such mind‒body practices. Advancement in sport psychology, particularly in relation to mindfulness-related topics, could benefit from a closer examination of Chan and Shaolin martial arts practices.

Different modulation effects of Tai Chi Chuan and Baduanjin on resting-state functional connectivity of the default mode network in older adults

The default mode network (DMN) plays an important role in age-related cognitive decline. This study aims to explore the modulation effect of two mind-body interventions (Tai Chi Chuan and Baduanjin) on DMN in elderly individuals. Participants between 50 and 70 years old were recruited and randomized into a Tai Chi Chuan, Baduanjin or control group. The Wechsler Memory Scale-Chinese Revision and resting-state fMRI scans were administered at baseline and following 12 weeks of exercise. Seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) was calculated. We found that (i) compared to the Baduanjin group, Tai Chi Chuan was significantly associated with increased rsFC between the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and right putamen/caudate and (ii) compared to the control group, Tai Chi Chuan increased posterior cingulate cortex rsFC with the right putamen/caudate, while Baduanjin decreased rsFC between the mPFC and orbital prefrontal gyrus/putamen. Baseline mPFC rsFC with orbital prefrontal gyrus was negatively correlated with visual reproduction subscore. These results suggest that both Tai Chi Chuan and Baduanjin can modulate the DMN, but through different pathways. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying different mind-body interventions may shed light on the development of new methods to prevent age-related diseases as well as other disorders associated with disrupted DMN.

Applications of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Neuroimaging in Exercise⁻Cognition Science: A Systematic, Methodology-Focused Review

For cognitive processes to function well, it is essential that the brain is optimally supplied with oxygen and blood. In recent years, evidence has emerged suggesting that cerebral oxygenation and hemodynamics can be modified with physical activity. To better understand the relationship between cerebral oxygenation/hemodynamics, physical activity, and cognition, the application of state-of-the art neuroimaging tools is essential. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is such a neuroimaging tool especially suitable to investigate the effects of physical activity/exercises on cerebral oxygenation and hemodynamics due to its capability to quantify changes in the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyHb) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (deoxyHb) non-invasively in the human brain. However, currently there is no clear standardized procedure regarding the application, data processing, and data analysis of fNIRS, and there is a large heterogeneity regarding how fNIRS is applied in the field of exercise⁻cognition science. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the current methodological knowledge about fNIRS application in studies measuring the cortical hemodynamic responses during cognitive testing (i) prior and after different physical activities interventions, and (ii) in cross-sectional studies accounting for the physical fitness level of their participants. Based on the review of the methodology of 35 as relevant considered publications, we outline recommendations for future fNIRS studies in the field of exercise⁻cognition science.

Effect of community based practice of Baduanjin on self-efficacy of adults with cardiovascular diseases

BACKGROUND

Low self-efficacy in chronic disease patients is one of the main disturbances which require physical and mental rehabilitation, calling for the development of a home accessible way to improve self-management.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a community based Baduanjin exercise on self-efficacy in adults with cardiovascular disease.

DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial, longitudinal research design was employed.

PARTICIPANTS

After screening by health documents in Community Health Service Station, a total of 134 patients with records of cardiovascular diseases were had been enrolled according to the following inclusion criteria: (1) Community dwelling adults in Xili Community; (2) Patients diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases by community doctors, or other clinicians in health records in the past 3 years (2013-2015); (3) independent walking. Participants were excluded if they: (1) had impaired mobility and limited extremities functionality; (2) had not been in stable health condition and could not adhere to the exercise regime; (3) had communication difficulties and limited ability to follow instructions.

METHODS

Participants were randomly assigned to the Baduanjin group or the control group. Those in the Baduanjin group received 16 weeks of Baduanjin exercise training, while those in the control group kept the original exercise mode unchanged. The Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-item Scale (SEMCD6) was administered to subjects before and after intervention.

RESULTS

Demographic data showed that 65.12% of the enrolled 129 participants were aged 65 or older, 92.25% received less than 12 years of education, and 68.21% participants' monthly income was less than 1999 RMB. Before intervention, SEMCD6 scores of 86.36% participants in Baduanjin group were below 7 points, while 85.71% in control group; after 16 weeks of Baduanjin exercise, SEMCD6 scores lower than 7 points in Baduanjin group (21.21%) were significantly lower than that of the control group (84.13%). The increase of SEMCD6 scores in Baduanjin group was statistically significant in the confidence to keep the fatigue, to keep the physical discomfort or pain, to keep the emotional distress and do the different tasks and activities (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Adults with cardiovascular diseases in community have lower level of education, most of whom have a low monthly income; thus, community dwelling cardiovascular disease patients are more suitable for an economic program to persist their long term management of the disease. Baduanjin is a traditional Chinese medicine regimen with less physical and cognitive demand; community based exercise of Baduanjin could help to increase self-efficacy in patients with cardiovascular diseases, thus better self-management of rehabilitation process.