A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Examining the Effects of Tai Chi and Electronic Tablet Use on Older Adults’ Cognition and Health

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of Tai Chi (TC) and electronic tablet (ET) interventions on older adults’ cognition and health and to explore participants’ perceptions of intervention activities. Design: An emergent embedded experimental mixed methods design was used in which the qualitative strand helped explain intervention results. Method: Older adults who participate in TC classes will have improved cognition and health compared with older adults who participate in ET classes. Twenty-six participants from two assisted living residences were recruited and randomized to receive nine TC or ET classes. The Modified Mini Mental State Exam was used to measure cognition and the SF-12v2 assessed perceived health before and after the intervention. Participants were invited to share perceptions of the two interventions. Institutional review board approval was obtained and participants provided signed consent for both quantitative and qualitative strands. Findings: There was no significant difference within or between groups on cognition and health scores. Conclusions: TC and ET use are activities that can be delivered in the community and have the potential to promote compensatory scaffolding as described by the revised scaffolding theory of aging and cognition. Future research should involve larger samples and teaching methods that promote learning postures