Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China has reported that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) boosts the effectiveness of tai chi chuan in improving sleep quality and cognitive function among older adults with sleep disorders and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Sleep disorders affect nearly half of adults over 60, exacerbating cognitive decline and increasing dementia risk by 30%. Current pharmacologic treatments yield unsatisfactory results, highlighting the need for effective nonpharmacologic interventions.
Tai chi chuan, a form of meditative calisthenics with roots in martial arts, is linked to enhancing sleep quality and delaying cognitive impairment, according to the researchers. Adherence to tai chi chuan can present challenges for some as it requires prolonged moderate-intensity levels of aerobic activity.
rTMS is a technique that involves delivering repeated magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. Magnetic stimulation appears to affect brain function and is often used in resistant forms of depression in hopes of awakening cells that remain dormant during depression. The mechanisms behind the result are still unclear. Other uses include migraine headache relief and smoking cessation therapy, again used only after traditional methods have failed.
In the current research, rTMS was investigated for its effects on the clinical benefits of tai chi chuan in older adults with sleep disorders and mild cognitive impairment.
In the study, “Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Tai Chi Chuan for Older Adults With Sleep Disorders and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” published in JAMA Network Open, rTMS was investigated for its effects on the clinical benefits of tai chi chuan in older adults with sleep disorders and MCI.
In total, 110 participants aged 60 to 75 years were randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving tai chi chuan and 1-Hz rTMS targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or a group receiving tai chi chuan and sham rTMS. A 24-form Yang-style tai chi chuan routine was used.
Each group underwent 30 sessions over six weeks, with assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and a 12-week follow-up. Primary outcomes measured sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and cognitive function with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
At the six-week mark, the experimental group showed significant 3.1-point lower PSQI scores and 1.4-point higher MoCA scores compared to the sham treatment group.
At the 12-week follow-up, the experimental group maintained these benefits, with PSQI scores remaining 2.1 points lower and MoCA scores remaining 0.9 points higher than those in the sham group.
Secondary outcomes showed enhancements in memory, anxiety, depression, and specific cognitive tasks. Adverse events were minimal and unrelated to the interventions.
Findings suggest that 1-Hz rTMS targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex significantly enhances tai chi chuan’s benefits for sleep and cognitive functions in older adults with sleep disorders and MCI. The research team asserts that this may be related to alterations in neural plasticity, though it is unclear how this was investigated.
Incomplete reporting
The published article does not reflect the full scope of investigative measures registered for the trial, particularly when it comes to advanced neuroimaging and biochemical assays. Specifically, advanced neuroimaging methods such as fMRI, EEG, and fNIRS, along with biochemical assays like serum mass spectrometry neurotransmitter assays, were outlined in the clinical trial registration but were not reflected in the published findings.
The absence of these methods in the publication raises questions about whether they were utilized as per the registration or if they were excluded post-registration. Part of the reason clinical trials and methods are registered is to prevent “cherry picking” of favorable results and to offer transparency in study results. If indicators like fMRI or EEG were not utilized or the results were omitted, the authors should explicitly mention these exclusions in the study’s limitations or discussion sections.
More information:
Zhizhen Liu et al, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Tai Chi Chuan for Older Adults With Sleep Disorders and Mild Cognitive Impairment, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.54307
Giuseppe Lanza et al, Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Holistic Therapies for Sleep and Cognition, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.54316
© 2025 Science X Network
Citation:
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation enhances tai chi chuan–linked benefits, study claims (2025, January 15)
retrieved 15 January 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-01-repetitive-transcranial-magnetic-tai-chi.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China has reported that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) boosts the effectiveness of tai chi chuan in improving sleep quality and cognitive function among older adults with sleep disorders and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Sleep disorders affect nearly half of adults over 60, exacerbating cognitive decline and increasing dementia risk by 30%. Current pharmacologic treatments yield unsatisfactory results, highlighting the need for effective nonpharmacologic interventions. Tai chi chuan, a form of meditative calisthenics with roots in martial arts, is linked to enhancing sleep quality and delaying cognitive impairment, according to the researchers. Adherence to tai chi chuan can present challenges for some as it requires prolonged moderate-intensity levels of aerobic activity. rTMS is a technique that involves delivering repeated magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. Magnetic stimulation appears to affect brain function and is often used in resistant forms of depression in hopes of awakening cells that remain dormant during depression. The mechanisms behind the result are still unclear. Other uses include migraine headache relief and smoking cessation therapy, again used only after traditional methods have failed. In the current research, rTMS was investigated for its effects on the clinical benefits of tai chi chuan in older adults with sleep disorders and mild cognitive impairment. In the study, “Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Tai Chi Chuan for Older Adults With Sleep Disorders and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” published in JAMA Network Open, rTMS was investigated for its effects on the clinical benefits of tai chi chuan in older adults with sleep disorders and MCI. In total, 110 participants aged 60 to 75 years were randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving tai chi chuan and 1-Hz rTMS targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or a group receiving tai chi chuan and sham rTMS. A 24-form Yang-style tai chi chuan routine was used. Each group underwent 30 sessions over six weeks, with assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and a 12-week follow-up. Primary outcomes measured sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and cognitive function with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). At the six-week mark, the experimental group showed significant 3.1-point lower PSQI scores and 1.4-point higher MoCA scores compared to the sham treatment group. At the 12-week follow-up, the experimental group maintained these benefits, with PSQI scores remaining 2.1 points lower and MoCA scores remaining 0.9 points higher than those in the sham group. Secondary outcomes showed enhancements in memory, anxiety, depression, and specific cognitive tasks. Adverse events were minimal and unrelated to the interventions. Findings suggest that 1-Hz rTMS targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex significantly enhances tai chi chuan’s benefits for sleep and cognitive functions in older adults with sleep disorders and MCI. The research team asserts that this may be related to alterations in neural plasticity, though it is unclear how this was investigated. The published article does not reflect the full scope of investigative measures registered for the trial, particularly when it comes to advanced neuroimaging and biochemical assays. Specifically, advanced neuroimaging methods such as fMRI, EEG, and fNIRS, along with biochemical assays like serum mass spectrometry neurotransmitter assays, were outlined in the clinical trial registration but were not reflected in the published findings. The absence of these methods in the publication raises questions about whether they were utilized as per the registration or if they were excluded post-registration. Part of the reason clinical trials and methods are registered is to prevent “cherry picking” of favorable results and to offer transparency in study results. If indicators like fMRI or EEG were not utilized or the results were omitted, the authors should explicitly mention these exclusions in the study’s limitations or discussion sections. More information: Giuseppe Lanza et al, Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Holistic Therapies for Sleep and Cognition, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.54316 © 2025 Science X Network Citation: This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
Incomplete reporting
Zhizhen Liu et al, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Tai Chi Chuan for Older Adults With Sleep Disorders and Mild Cognitive Impairment, JAMA Network Open (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.54307
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation enhances tai chi chuan–linked benefits, study claims (2025, January 15)
retrieved 15 January 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-01-repetitive-transcranial-magnetic-tai-chi.html
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
