Brain Gain Through Taiji

October 2025

The number one concern in terms of cognitive function as we age is Alzheimer’s disease, which is a form of dementia causing abnormal changes in the brain that affect memory and other mental abilities. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, in the United States, approximately 5.5 million people age 65 and older as well as 200,000 people under the age of 65 have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. As this disease progresses, full assistance is typically required due to severe memory loss, impaired decision making, language difficulty and poor judgment – placing an enormous emotional and financial toll on family members.

A major focus of Alzheimer’s research is to evaluate strategies that reduce occurrence of mild cognitive impairment, which is a minor but noticeable decrease in memory and cognitive skills believed to be a risk factor for developing this disease. Taiji (Tai Chi) research has begun to shine light on the impact that this age-old exercise has on cognitive function particularly for older adults. For example, clinical trials show improvement in executive function, working memory, and slower cognitive decline in elderly Taiji practitioners when compared to their sedentary peers. Results are bringing hope to many people that there is something they can do to maintain their mental faculties for the rest of their lives.

Traditionally, Taiji has been held as a way to enhance brain function due to how it combines gentle, flowing movement with breathwork, mindfulness, and the need to memorize the movements. This stems in great part from how it increases circulation of qi (vital energy), promotes detoxification, and engages and balances nearly every major bodily system. Its rhythmical whole body movement acts like a gentle pump that increases blood flow throughout the body, including the brain. Integration of its movements along with deep breathing improves oxygenation and release of carbon monoxide which further benefits brain function.

Applying this to specific areas of the brain, focused attention which is known as “mind intent practice” enhances the prefrontal cortex. Memorization of movement sequences strengthens the hippocampus. The regulation of breath with movement positively impacts the brainstem and vagus nerve. And the movement sequences themselves improve the motor cortex and basal ganglia.

Taiji brings forth inner calm and reduces stress by enhancing the parasympathetic nervous system through vagus nerve activation. This reduces “fight or flight” by decreasing the sympathetic response, thereby decreasing cortisol production which otherwise shrinks the hippocampus when chronic and excessive. Its balanced and slow movements also engage the cerebellum and vestibular system which relate to spatial awareness (proprioception) and what is known as “cognitive mapping”. Moreover, practicing Taiji improves brain function by increasing quality of one’s sleep as this is when the brain disposes its waste.