Tai Chi May Slow Parkinson’s Disease Progression and Improve Symptoms, Study Finds
A new study published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry suggests that practicing Tai Chi, the Chinese martial art known for its slow and controlled movements, may help curb the symptoms and complications of Parkinson’s disease. The research indicates that Tai Chi is associated with slower disease progression and lower doses of required medication over time.
Parkinson’s disease is a debilitating and progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by movement difficulties, tremors, muscle stiffness, and inflexibility. It is currently the fastest-growing neurological condition globally, with the number of affected individuals projected to reach nearly 5 million in China alone by 2030. In the UK, two people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease every hour, according to Parkinson’s UK.
While there is no cure for Parkinson’s, medications can improve symptoms to some extent. However, they do not treat all manifestations of the disease, and there is no evidence that they slow its progression. Previous research has suggested that Tai Chi can alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms in the short term, but its long-term effects were unclear.
To explore this further, researchers monitored two groups of Parkinson’s patients for over five years, from January 2016 to June 2021. One group of 147 patients participated in Tai Chi classes twice a week for an hour, while the other group of 187 patients continued with their standard care without practicing Tai Chi.
The study found that disease progression was slower in the Tai Chi group at all monitoring points. Patients in the Tai Chi group required less medication compared to the standard care group, with a significantly lower number of individuals needing to increase their medication dosage. The Tai Chi group also experienced slower cognitive function deterioration and improvement in non-movement symptoms, sleep quality, and overall quality of life.
Additionally, the prevalence of complications associated with Parkinson’s, such as dyskinesia (involuntary movement), dystonia (abnormal muscle tone), hallucinations, mild cognitive impairment, and restless leg syndrome, was significantly lower in the Tai Chi group compared to the standard care group. The side effects reported by study participants, such as falls, dizziness, and back pain, were also less frequent in the Tai Chi group.
It is important to note that this study is observational and cannot establish cause and effect. The number of participants was relatively small, and they were not randomly assigned to their respective groups. However, the findings suggest that Tai Chi may have long-term beneficial effects on both motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, improving gait, balance, autonomic symptoms, and cognition.
The researchers conclude that Tai Chi could potentially slow disease progression, prolong the time without disability, improve quality of life, reduce caregiver burden, and decrease the need for medication in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms behind Tai Chi’s effects on Parkinson’s and to determine the optimal frequency and duration of practice for maximum benefits.
Reference:
Effect of long-term Tai Chi training on Parkinson’s disease: a 3.5-year follow-up cohort study, Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry (2023). DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-330967