According to the latest Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) report, among the 14 neurological disorders that are quantified as part of GBD, Parkinson’s disease (PD) was the fifth most burdensome in terms of adjusted life-years and the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. Although many of PD motor and nonmotor symptoms are controlled by medication, as the disease progresses its severity inevitably evolves, moving from forms of mild motor predominance to intermediate and diffuse malignant. Parkinson’s syndrome is common in middle-aged and elderly people and is a neurological degenerative disease, mainly manifested by muscle stiffness, tremors and movement disorders and other symptoms, seriously affecting the quality of life and health of the elderly. PD is pathologically characterized by the loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic innervation, although neurodegeneration is not limited to only the nigral dopaminergic neurons but also involves cells located in other regions of the neural network. Such a widespread pathology makes PD a very heterogeneous disorder, and a reliable diagnostic test is not yet available. Currently, diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms with the criteria for a diagnosis requiring the presence of two of the following clinical features: resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and/or postural instability. With the aging of the population, the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease is also on the rise. Among current treatments, functional exercise is widely used and has been shown to have a positive impact on Parkinson’s patients.
Author(s) Details:
He Huang
Independent Researcher, 2308 Ruth Ct, Rowland Heights, CA 91748, Los Angeles, USA.
Recent Global Research Developments in Therapeutic Benefits of Tai Chi for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease
Long-Term Benefits: A study conducted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine [1] monitored hundreds of Parkinson’s patients for up to five years. The group that practiced regular tai chi experienced slower disease progression, improved symptoms, better balance, and fewer falls compared to the non-tai chi group. Quality of life and sleep also improved.
Positive Effects: Another trial found that people with Parkinson’s who practiced tai chi for six months showed greater improvements in walking, posture, and balance compared to those not on the program [1] .
Sustained Improvement: Researchers have suggested that tai chi retains its beneficial effects on Parkinson’s disease over the long term, making it a potential management strategy to prolong quality of life while keeping patients active [1].
Safety and Effectiveness: While the evidence is promising, it’s essential to acknowledge that the study is relatively small and cannot definitively prove that tai chi was the sole reason for positive outcomes. However, aspects of motor and non-motor functions did show impressive improvements [1] .
Previous Research: Previously published studies have also indicated short-term benefits of tai chi for Parkinson’s symptoms, but this recent research emphasizes its potential long-term impact [1] .
References
- Tai chi may slow Parkinson’s symptoms for years, study finds
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-67208745 - Tai Chi may curb Parkinson’s disease symptoms and complications for several years
https://bmjgroup.com/tai-chi-may-curb-parkinsons-disease-symptoms-and-complications-for-several-years/
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