Tai chi helps boost memory, study finds.
Your keys aren't in the spot you thought you left them? Can't recall the title of a book? I've had those moments.
Amid our busy lives, distraction or fatigue may explain our forgetfulness. But instances of "brain freeze" make me realize I want to do everything in my power to keep my brain sharp.
There's plenty of evidence that exercise can help protect our bodies and brains. And as we age, daily movement doesn't need to be super intense. In fact, a new study finds tai chi, a slow-moving form of martial arts, can help slow cognitive decline and protect against dementia.
The study included about 300 older adults, in their mid-70s on average, who had all reported that their memory was not as good as it used to be.
As part of the study, all the participants took a 10-minute test, called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, to gauge cognitive function. A normal score is 26-30. A person who scores between 18 and 25 is considered to have mild impairment, which means they don't have dementia but they're not as sharp as they used to be and may need to work harder to maintain everyday activities. The average score of participants at the start of the study was 25.
