A Chinese Chan-based Lifestyle Intervention Improves Memory of Older Adults

Overview

Journal Front Aging Neurosci

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2014 Apr 12

PMID 24723885

Citations 6

Authors

Agnes S Chan

Sophia L Sze

Jean Woo

Ruby H Yu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study aims to explore the potential benefits of a Chinese Chan-based lifestyle intervention on enhancing memory in older people with lower memory function. Forty-four aged 60-83 adults with various level of memory ability participated in the study. Their memories (including verbal and visual components) were assessed before and after 3 months intervention. The intervention consisted of 12 sessions, with one 90 min session per week. The intervention involved components of adopting a special vegetarian diet, practicing a type of mind-body exercises, and learning self-realization. Elderly with lower memory function at the baseline (i.e., their performance on standardized memory tests was within 25th percentile) showed a significant memory improvement after the intervention. Their verbal and visual memory performance has showed 50 and 49% enhancement, respectively. In addition, their improvement can be considered as a reliable and clinically significant change as reflected by their significant pre-post differences and reliable change indices. Such robust treatment effect was found to be specific to memory functions, but less influencing on the other cognitive functions. These preliminary encouraging results have shed some light on the potential applicability of the Chinese Chan-based lifestyle intervention as a method for enhancing memory in the elderly population.

Citing Articles

Lifestyle Medicine Program Improves Memory and Executive Functions of Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Cheung M, Sze S, Chan A Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2024; 39:15333175241255744.

PMID: 38764310 PMC: 11104026. DOI: 10.1177/15333175241255744.

Sustained Effects of Memory and Lifestyle Interventions on Memory Functioning of Older Adults: An 18-Month Follow-Up Study.

Chan A, Cheung W, Yeung M, Lee T Front Aging Neurosci. 2018; 10:240.

PMID: 30131690 PMC: 6090041. DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00240.

A Chinese -based Mind-Body Intervention Improves Memory of Older Adults.

Chan A, Cheung W, Yeung M, Woo J, Kwok T, Shum D Front Aging Neurosci. 2017; 9:190.

PMID: 28659789 PMC: 5466997. DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00190.

The Role of Healthy Lifestyle in the Implementation of Regressing Suboptimal Health Status among College Students in China: A Nested Case-Control Study.

Chen J, Xiang H, Jiang P, Yu L, Jing Y, Li F Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017; 14(3).

PMID: 28264509 PMC: 5369076. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14030240.

[Effect of health-promoting lifestyle on outcomes of suboptimal health status].

Chen J, Yu K, Sun X, Chen Z, Kuang L, Ji Y Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2017; 37(2):184-191.

PMID: 28219861 PMC: 6779666.

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