NIH-funded research R01 grant

Tai Ji Quan with thinking tasks to prevent falls for older adults with mild memory problems

Official title: Dual-Task Training Exercise to Reduce Falls in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Funded at Oregon Research Institute · NIH-11012419 · Data updated 2026-11-12

Older adults with mild cognitive impairment will take part in a Tai Ji Quan program that combines balance movements with mental tasks to help reduce falls.

More Cognitive Impairment research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionOregon Research Institute
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Springfield, UNITED STATES)
Project startFebruary 1, 2023
Project endJanuary 31, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$792,738
NIH project number5R01AG074045-03
Project IDNIH-11012419 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates are community-dwelling older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment who can stand and walk and are at increased risk of falls.

Less likely to help

People with more advanced dementia, severe mobility impairments, or medical conditions that make exercise unsafe may not benefit or be eligible.

What this research studies

You would join a tailored Tai Ji Quan (tai chi) program that adds 'dual-task' mental challenges to the balance and movement exercises. Classes run for six months and are designed specifically for people with mild cognitive impairment to practice balancing while doing attention or memory tasks. The study compares this dual-task program against traditional Tai Ji Quan to see which approach leads to fewer falls. Sessions may be offered in person at the Oregon Research Institute or via e-health/online delivery.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce the number of falls and related injuries among older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

How similar studies have gone: Small pilot studies and prior work support benefits of Tai Ji Quan with cognitive tasks, but larger definitive randomized trials are still limited.

Where this research is happening

  • Oregon Research Institute
    Springfield, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Li, Fuzhong — Oregon Research Institute
  • Study coordinator: Li, Fuzhong

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.