14 DAY TRIAL // Practicing Tai Chi as a small child, I've always had a fascination with Eastern practices, especially as part of martial arts. Our instructor used to tell us that this ancient ritual improves our minds, but I've always believed this to be a matter of faith. As it turns out, it's a scientific fact.
Researchers writing in the latest issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease say that practicing Tai Chi and engaging in lively conversations boosts brain volume in seniors, preventing the onset of various forms of dementia.
The ability to reverse the degenerative “trend with physical exercise and increased mental activity implies that it may be possible to delay the onset of dementia in older persons through interventions that have many physical and mental health benefits,” USF professor and lead author James Mortimer says.
Previous studies have shown that dementia can be addressed using Tai Chi, but scientists say that more work is needed before a clear conclusion on this subject can be drawn, PsychCentral reports.