A researcher at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is using Tai Chi in a study of pain and elderly people with memory loss. Pao-Feng Tsai is hoping to find a way to eventually slow down the advance of Alzheimer's while also improving the medical world's ability to detect pain in Alzheimer's patients who have trouble communicating their discomfort.

The UAMS study involves groups of people with memory loss and arthritis. Some groups take the Tai Chi classes while others do not and, at the end, Pao-Feng Tsai will study data collected from both groups for comparison.

A small-scale pilot study previously showed promise that the ancient martial art can be learned by people with memory loss and can be effective in reducing pain.
      
      
  

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