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Cited by 187Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchFunctional Brain Connectivity StudiesCancer-related cognitive impairment studies

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

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Tao, Jing, Liu, Jiao, Chen, Xiangli, Xia, Rui, Li, Moyi, Huang, Maomao, Li, Shuzhen, Park, Joel +7 more·2019·NeuroImage: Clinical
DOI 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101834PMC PMC6535682
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Abstract

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.

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  • Neurobiological mechanisms underpinning memory benefits include increased hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, mediated by exercise-induced elevation of BDNF and IGF-1, improved cerebrovascular function, and reductions in chronic inflammation.

    “Neurobiological mechanisms underpinning these benefits include increased hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, mediated by exercise-induced elevation of BDNF and IGF-1, improved cerebrovascular function, and reductions in chronic inflammation”

    From Optimal exercise interventions for enhancing cognitive function in older adults: a network meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as Tao et al., 2019

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Authors
Tao, J., Liu, J., Chen, X., Xia, R., Li, M., Huang, M., Li, S., Park, J., Wilson, G., Lang, C., Xie, G., Zhang, B., Zheng, G., Chen, L., & Kong, J.
Affiliations
  • Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN)
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences (CN)
Corresponding author
  • Zheng, Guohua
  • Chen, Lidian
  • Kong, Jian
ORCID
Venue
NeuroImage: Clinical
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019
Volume
23
Pages
101834
ISSN
2213-1582 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101834
PMC
PMC6535682
OpenAlex
W2942247151
Cited by
187
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 3
FWCI
13.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • NeuroImage Clinical (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Department of Education, Fujian Province (2015003)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (81574045)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Cancer-related cognitive impairment studies
Keywords
Baduanjin, mind-body exercise, mild cognitive impairment, cognitive function, hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation, gray matter volume, resting-state functional connectivity, brisk walking, angular gyrus
MeSH terms
Aged, Cognition, Exercise Therapy, Female, Gyrus Cinguli, Hippocampus, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Exercise, Mind-Body Therapies, Cognitive Dysfunction

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