Cognitive Effects of Tai Chi Chuan in Healthy Older Adults and Older Adults

Cognitive score on Montreal Cognitive Assessment Taiwan version (MoCA) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR).

Completed time (seconds) on Color Trail Test- Part 1& 2, and number of errors from executive function task on Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).

Upper and lower limbs' muscle strength (kg) on handheld dynamometer, grip test, and to test lower limb strength by measuring the completed times in 30 seconds, chair rise test.

Flexibility score (cm) on scratch test, chair sit and reach test.

Balance time (seconds) on eyes opened one-leg stance test.

Coordination time (seconds) on four square step test and "Timed Up and Go" test

Walking distance (meters) on six-minute walking test.

Physical activity score on "Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly" questionnaire.

Memory score on Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).

Brain MR images were obtained with a 3T Siemens (Erlangen, Germany) whole-body MRI scanner. A Siemens 32-channel head array coil was used as a receiver. Functional MRI (fMRI) was acquired using a BOLD-weighted gradient-echo echoplanar image sequence (EPI) ( TR/TE=2000/24 ms, field of view= 192 mm, voxel dimensions 3 x 3 x 4 mm, matrix= 64 x 64, slice thickness= 4 mm, flip angle 90°), and 34 slices will be obtained with anterior-posterior phase encoding direction and covering the whole brain. The fMRI paradigm was the event-related designed switching task by E-prime 2.0. The fMRI imaging data processing and analysis were accomplished using SPM8 (Wellcome Department of Imaging Neuroscience). Statistical parametric maps of the t statistic, SPM{t}, were obtained with the threshold of p< 0.001 uncorrected. The brain functional activation results will be presented by the p value and the magnitude of Blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) intensity.

Structural MRI was measured by T1, T2, and diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI). DSI will be performed to reconstruct tractography of the neural tracts. The DSI data was acquired by using a pulsed-gradient spin-echo diffusion EPI. The maximum diffusion sensitivity b value=4000 s/mm2, TR/TE=9600/130 ms, FOV=200 mm, and thickness=2.5 mm. Approximately 56 transaxial slices will be acquired encompassing the whole brain. The general fractional anisotropy (GFA) values, a quantitative index derived from the orientation distribution function to indicate diffusion anisotropy, were calculated at each voxel, The reconstruction of the tracts tractography was performed by using DSI Studio software. The integrity of these neural tracts will be presented by GFA value.

Handness score on "Edinburgh Handedness Inventory" questionnaire.

Footless score on "Waterloo Footedness Questionnaire".

Depression score on "Geriatric Depression Scale 15-item short-form".

Basic physical score on " instrumental activities of daily living" questionnaire.