A Multicenter Rct Of Tai Chi And Multisensory Stimulation For Cognitive Enhancement In Mild Cognitive Impairment

PURPOSE: This study aims to compare whether integrating Tai Chi with sensory stimulation can facilitate more efficacious interventions for these outcomes. METHODS: The Tai Chi and Multisensory Stimulation for Cognitive Function (Tai Chi-MSS) study is a multicenter, randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted across sites in Suzhou and Shanghai, 62 participants aged 60 and older with MCI were recruited. Participants were stratified by age and baseline cognitive function, then randomly allocated to one of four groups: Tai Chi (TC) only, Tai Chi combined with multi-sensory stimulation (TCMSS), multi-sensory stimulation (MSS) only, or a control group (CG). The intervention took 24 weeks, with follow-up assessments at 3 and 6 months. Primary outcome measures included cognitive assessments via the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and additional tests targeting specific cognitive domains. Data were analyzed using mixed-effects models, with False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: In terms of MoCA scores, the TCMSS group (z = -7.22, p < 0.001) and TC group (z = -11.53, p < 0.001) showed notable improvements, with highly significant results. For MMSE scores, the TCMSS group (z = -3.38, p = 0.002) and TC group (z = -2.44, p = 0.02) again showed significant gains, while the MSS (z = -1.33, p = 0.19) and control groups (z = 3.37, p = 0.002) showed minimal improvement. Memory test scores also improved significantly in the TCMSS group (z = -3.31, p < 0.003) and MSS group (z = -3.37, p < 0.002), Additionally, The TCMSS group showed significant gains in specific memory accuracy sub-items, with marked improvement in simple memory (sub-item 1: z = -4.27, p = 0.0003) and complex memory (sub-item 2: z = -3.43, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that the combined intervention of Tai Chi and sensory stimulation significantly improves cognitive function in MCI patients, with notable efficacy in enhancing memory. This intervention model presents a promising non-pharmacological approach, providing evidence for a multi-dimensional intervention strategy for MCI in future research. Supported by: National Philosophy and Social Science Foundation:23ATY010