Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) significantly contributes to cognitive decline and poses potential risk factors for both dementia and acute cerebrovascular events. Tai Chi has been recognized as an effective mind-body intervention for enhancing cognitive function and promoting neural plasticity. However, the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie how Tai Chi exercises affect cognitive improvement in patients with CSVD remain unclear. We recruited 51 patients with CSVD, randomly assigning them to either a 24-week Tai Chi exercise group (n = 26) or a health education control group (n = 25). We collected and analyzed data on neuropsychological assessments, plasma homocysteine levels, and brain structural and functional connectivity (SC and FC). Additionally, we employed network-based statistics along with correlational and mediation effect analyses to analyze the intervention process. Patients in the intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in cognitive function. Furthermore, they demonstrated an increased FC pattern in the frontal-parietal-occipital regions, along with a significant rise of structural-functional coupling within the frontal network and a reduction in the occipital network. The enhanced structural-functional coupling in the frontal network partially mediated the reduction in homocysteine levels and the improvement in cognitive function.
ZHONG et al. (2026) studied this question.