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Tai Chi: can it slow down the aging process?
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Following a programme of Tai Chi is as beneficial as a brisk walking exercise programme in promoting haematopoietic CD34+ stem cells, which are blood cell precursors. As the life of CD34+ stem cells are limited by factors including aging, they are considered to be an indicator of aging. Both Tai Chi and brisk walking promoted CD34+ stem cell numbers when compared to people who did not follow any specific exercise programme. These are the main findings of a study published in the journal Cell Transplantation from researchers in different institutions in Taiwan.

Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art. Its practice has been associated with moderation of Parkinson’s disease and fibromyalgia. It is also suggested to be beneficial in a range of ways including pain reduction, sleep quality, stress reduction and quality of life. These suggested benefits led the research team in the current study to consider if Tai Chi might have anti-aging benefits.

The researchers used flow cytometry to measure levels of CD34+ stem cells from blood samples of study participants as an aging indicator. In a retrospective cross-sectional study, they recruited a cohort of young subjects to avoid confounding factors such as underlying diseases or long-term medication use. Out of sixty possible participants, they finally assigned 32 eligible participants to the Tai Chi group (TCC) (n=10), brisk walking group (BW) (n=10) and a group with no fixed exercise habit (NEH) (n=12). The Tai Chi group had been practicing for at least one year for 2.5 hours or more per week and the brisk walking group had also been practicing for a minimum of one year for 2.5 hours or more per week. Brisk walking was chosen as a comparison as it requires about the same level of physical effort as Tai Chi, with both being considered moderate intensity exercise.

The results of the study indicated that the TCC group had significantly higher levels of CD34+ progenitor stem cells compared to the NEH group. There was no significant difference between the TCC and BW groups in terms of CD34+ stem cells. However, there was also no significant difference when the BW group was compared to the NEH group. Results of a shorter pilot study over two months did not show any improvement in CD34+ levels with Tai Chi suggesting that the duration of practice is important.

Overall, the results indicate that Tai Chi is at least as efficacious as brisk walking in promoting anti-aging effects. The study corresponding author Dr. Shinn-Zong Lin said: "It is possible that Tai Chi may prompt vasodilation and increase blood flow…Considering that BW may require a larger space or more equipment, Tai Chi seems to be an easier and more convenient choice of anti-aging exercise." It is a small study based on young people around the age of 20. Larger studies on people with different age profiles will be needed for full assessment of the effects of Tai Chi but according to Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, of the Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair in the University of South Florida, this preliminary study provides "the first step into providing scientific evidence for the possible health benefits of Tai Chi."

Sources:

Ho, T.-J., Ho, L.-I., Hsueh, K.-W., Chan, T.-M., Huang, S.-L., Lin, J.-G., Liang, W.-M., Hsu, W.-H., Harn, H.-J., and Lin, S.-Z. (2014). Tai Chi Intervention Increases Progenitor CD34+ Cells in Young Adults. Cell Transplantation, 23: 613-620.http://dx.doi.org/10.3727/096368914x678355

Press release: Cell Transplantation Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair, available at http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2...052814.php
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Tai Chi: can it slow down the aging process?00