EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM TIBETAN GOUZHANG DANCES ON COGNITIVE FUNCTION ASSOCIATED WITH CEREBRAL BLOOD BLOW AND CEREBRAL REGIONS IN ELDERLY LIVING AT HIGH ALTITUDE

Abstract

Traditional Guozhuang dance means “singing coupled with joyful dancing in a circle” in Tibetan, which is danced in public places for people to relax and exercise. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of long-term Tibetian Gouzhang dances on cognitive related Cerebral regions and cerebral hemodynamics in elderly people living at high altitude. Thirty people over 60-year-old who practice Gouzhuang dances for about 5 to 40 years were selected as aerobic exercise group and thirty elderly people of lacking exercise were used as control group at Qinghai-Tibetan plateau (altitude ≥2,260 m) for the present study. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) assessed Mean Velocity (Vm), Systolic Velocity (SPV), Diastolic Velocity (EDV), Resistance index (RD) and Pulsation Index (Pl) in cerebral middle artery (MCA). White matter lesions (WML) and lacunar infarction(LI) were calculated by Siemens Skyra 3.0T MRI. Cognitive function was measured by mini-mental state examination (MMSE). (1) In comparision to control group, Vm, SPV, EDV of MCA; Fazekas-score for WML and LI were significantly decreased, in contrast, RD and MMSE scores was significantly increased in aerobic exercise group. (2) Vm and RD was positively correlated with Fazekas-score in control group (γ=0.525，0.490，P＜0.01). (3) MMSE score was negatively correlated with Vm, Fazekas score and LI (γ=-0.340, -0.320，-0.431，P＜0.05，P＜0.01); Recall was negatively correlated with Fazekas-score (γ=-0.468，P＜0.01); Orientation, Language and Recall was negatively correlated with LI in aerobic exercise group. Elderly who long-term participated in Tibetan Gouzhuang dances may improve their different cognitive domains associated with reduced WML and LI and increased cerebral blood flow. However，changes in cerebral hemodynamics of lacking exercise increases with risk of WML at high altitude.