Editor’s note: The journal article on which this post was based has since been retracted by the publishing journal. Retraction means the published findings can no longer be relied upon, so the summary below is retained for transparency only and should not be used to guide clinical decisions. Readers seeking evidence on exercise and cognition in type 2 diabetes should consult other, non-retracted sources.
Summary (from the now-retracted study): A randomised trial reported that 24-style Tai Chi delivered through a wearable-supported mobile-health model improved cognitive scores (MoCA) more than fitness walking or usual care in older adults with type 2 diabetes, with associated gains in some cognitive subdomains. Because the source article has been retracted, these results are not considered reliable.
PICO Summary
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Population | Older adults with type 2 diabetes; randomised controlled trial (source article retracted). |
| Intervention | 24-style Tai Chi via live video, with wearable and continuous glucose monitoring (mobile-health model). |
| Comparison | Supervised fitness walking or usual diabetes care. |
| Outcome | The retracted report described greater improvement in MoCA and some cognitive measures with Tai Chi. As the article has been retracted, these findings should not be treated as valid evidence. |
Expert Commentary
The most important thing I can say about this study is that it has been retracted, and that fact must override any interpretation of its results. A retraction signals that the publishing journal has lost confidence in the integrity or reliability of the work, whether through error, methodological problems, or concerns about the data, and once that has happened the reported effects cannot be cited as evidence regardless of how plausible they sound. That matters here precisely because the claimed result, that a gentle, accessible, mind-body practice improves cognition in older diabetic patients, is appealing and would be easy to want to believe. The broader, separate literature on Tai Chi for balance, wellbeing, and functional capacity is reasonable, but this particular trial cannot contribute to it. Can I use this with my patients? No, not on the basis of this study. I would not present its specific cognitive claims as established, and I am retaining this page only to be transparent that the underlying article was withdrawn. For genuine guidance on exercise and brain health in diabetes, I would rely on non-retracted trials and systematic reviews instead.
References
Chen XS, Liu HZ, Fang J, et al. Effects of Tai Chi on cognitive function in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: randomized controlled trial using wearable devices in a mobile health model. J Med Internet Res. 2025;27:e77014. [Retracted]. doi:10.2196/77014