Tai Chi, the gentle ancient Chinese mind-body workout derived from martial arts, might have yet another unaccounted benefit: Increasing the size of the brain – possibly even preventing dementia.
Chinese seniors
who practiced Tai Chi three times a week, increased their brain size and improving
their test scores on memory tests according to a study by the University of
Florida and Fudan University in Shanghai published this week in the Journal of
Alzheimer’s Disease.
“The Tai-Chi group in the study displayed brain growth of 1 percent over the period of eight months measured through MRIs” said the lead researcher James Mortimer, a USF Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. “How exactly that growth occurred and whether genetics or other factors played a role requires further research” he added.
Tai chi has
been investigated for its positive impact on cognitive function, but this new
report is the first to look at brain volume, he said.
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