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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Springfield, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $792,738 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG074045-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-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
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Exercise program to help prevent falls in older adults with mild cognitive impairment
This study is testing a special exercise program called Dual-Tai Ji Quan, which helps older adults with mild cognitive impairment improve their balance and focus to prevent falls, and it involves fun mind-body exercises over six months.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.