HHS HealthBeat (July 27, 2011)

Tai chi fighting depression

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

A Westernized form of tai chi may help older people being treated for depression. At UCLA, Helen Lavretsky saw this in a study involving 73 people ages 60 or older who had only partial benefit from drug treatment.

Half took part in the tai chi-style physical activity, which is based on an ancient Chinese martial art, for two hours a week over 10 weeks. Compared to a control group, most had some improvement. And two thirds achieved remission.

So Dr. Lavretsky advises:

``Add simple interventions like tai chi or any kind of exercise that they are more active in, physically or mentally.’’  (6 seconds)

The study in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: July 26, 2011