Mind-body exercise improved cognitive scores in people with cognitive decline
Pooled trials favoured traditional mind-body exercise on overall cognitive scores, with results differing across abilities and tests.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Traditional mind-body exercise improved overall cognitive test scores compared with controls in people with neurodegenerative diseases or early cognitive decline. Some specific abilities also improved, while attention findings depended on the test. This abstract-based evidence concerns cognitive performance; it does not establish slower disease progression or greater everyday independence.
Some outcomes varied substantially between studies, though additional analyses tended to reduce that variation. The abstract omits follow-up durations and control activities, and leaves the everyday importance of score changes unclear.
What researchers found
Overall cognition on the MoCA test
Mean difference in MoCA scores: the exercise group's average exceeded the control group's. The interval shows uncertainty; follow-up duration and everyday importance were not reported.
Which activities were studied
The review covered tai chi, baduanjin, wuqinxi and yoga in people with diagnosed disease or early cognitive decline. Its pooled findings do not establish that each activity had the same effects.
Cognitive abilities differed
Executive function and verbal fluency improved, while delayed-recall benefits appeared in particular subgroups. Attention effects varied with the assessment tool. An improved overall score therefore does not imply uniform gains across every cognitive ability.
The original publication
The effects of traditional mind-body exercises on cognitive function in neurodegenerative diseases or prodromal cognitive decline: a meta-analysis.
Liu X, Cui C, Lv J et al.
Front Public Health · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41756081
- Record checked
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