Mar 17, 2011 15:43 GMT  ·  By
Tai Chi may improve depression symptoms in the elderly, a new UCLA study shows
   Tai Chi may improve depression symptoms in the elderly, a new UCLA study shows

Ancient martial arts may have relevance in today's modern world yet, say experts at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA). They discovered that practicing Tai Chi aids seniors in fighting depression, which is a fast-growing problem in this population.

Official statistics for the United States show that more than 2 million people aged over 65 suffer from depression. These numbers also include 50 percent of all the elderly living in nursing homes.

Lately, finding ways of engaging seniors has become a public health priority, given that the population is getting older, and that the healthcare costs associated with taking care of this subgroup are massive.

According to the UCLA group, practicing Tai Chi may be an inexpensive, highly-effective way of dealing with depression in the elderly. The team studies a simpler, “Westernized” version of the ancient martial art.

In the new experiments, a group of depressed old people were asked to take part in Tai Chi sessions, in addition to taking their usual drug treatment against the psychological disorder, PsychCentral reports.

When they investigated the patients in this group, UCLA scientists found that depression symptoms had improved considerably (and consistently throughout the group). But they also found other benefits.

Chiefly among those was an overall improved quality of life, much more efficient memory and cognition level, as well as a large energy boost. The test group fared better on these test points than another control group, whose members only got the standard depression treatment.

“This is the first study to demonstrate the benefits of Tai Chi in the management of late-life depression, and we were encouraged by the results,” explains UCLA professor-in-residence of psychiatry Dr. Helen Lavretsky, the first author of the new study.

“We know that nearly two-thirds of elderly patients who seek treatment for their depression fail to achieve relief with a prescribed medication,” the investigator adds. Details of the research were published in the latest online issue of the esteemed American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

The investigation was carried out on 112 people aged 60 or above. All participants were given the drug Lexapro for about a month, after which 73 of them were randomly assigned to the two groups.

Researchers only selected those who exhibited partial improvements as a result of the Lexapro treatment, and not those who fared best or worst. The 73 test subjects were either asked to participate in Tai Chi sessions, or attend a health education class.

“Depression can lead to serious consequences, including greater morbidity, disability, mortality and increased cost of care,” Lavretsky adds.

“This study shows that adding a mind-body exercise like tai chi that is widely available in the community can improve the outcomes of treating depression in older adults, who may also have other, co-existing medical conditions, or cognitive impairment,” she says.

“With tai chi, we may be able to treat these conditions without exposing them to additional medications,” the expert concludes.