The effect of Tai Chi practice on brain white matter structure: a diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging study. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yao, Jian; Song, Qipeng; Zhang, Kai; Hong, Youlian; Li, Weiping; Mao, Dewei; Cong, Yan; Li, Jing Xian
• Is Part Of: Research in sports medicine. Volume 27:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 121
• Page End: 130
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: Tai Chi -- diffusion tensor imaging -- aging -- brain white matter -- exercise; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine du sport -- Périodiques; 617.102705
• DOI: 10.1080/15438627.2018.1502184
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1543-8627

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures the displacement of water molecules across tissue components and thus provides information on the microstructure of brain white matter. This study examined the effect of Tai Chi and the relation of Tai Chi experiences and skills with brain white matter. Fractional anisotropy (FA) was obtained from the DTI magnetic resonance images of two group participants, namely, the long-term Tai Chi practitioners and sedentary counterparts. Whole-brain voxel-based analysis showed that the Tai Chi group had higher FA in the splenium of corpus callosum (p = 0.015) than the control group. Rank correlation analysis revealed that in the Tai Chi group, the FA value of the splenium of corpus callosum was moderately related with exercise duration (r = 0.45, p = 0.045) but highly related with skill level (r = 0.699, p = 0.001). Long-term Tai Chi practice could benefit to the brain white matter, and these impacts were correlated with exercise duration and skill level.