The effect of Baduanjin exercise on cognitive function in elderly people: A systematic review based on near-infrared spectroscopy technology

Abstract

To systematically evaluate the application of near-infrared spectroscopy technology in the study of the effect of Baduanjin exercise on cognitive function in elderly people. Relevant literature was retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science core database, ScienceDirect, Wanfang, VIP, and CNKI from 2014 to June 2023, and relevant data were extracted. A total of 1 valid literature was obtained, published in 2022, sourced from the medical journal FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, with an impact factor of 6.46. This journal belongs to JCR Q1 area, and the SCI basic version of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is in the Q3 area of medicine. The inclusion criteria for the subjects of this study were age 60 years, experience of Baduanjin exercise for 3 years, and MMSE score 24 points. This study, based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy technology, explores the effects of Baduanjin imagery and Baduanjin exercise on cognitive function in elderly people. Baduanjin exercise can increase brain connectivity, improve brain structural connections, and enhance brain function in elderly people. These three factors are also the main reasons for Baduanjin exercise to promote the improvement of cognitive function, including increasing brain gray matter volume, brain functional area connections, etc. Baduanjin exercise can improve specific cognitive functions by increasing gray matter volume. Baduanjin exercise can regulate the functional connections of the cognitive control network in elderly people and improve their memory.