Qigong and cognitive dysfunction: research overview

Not medical advice. This page lists research about qigong and cognitive dysfunction. It does not say whether qigong works for any person or condition. Talk to a qualified health professional before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have a medical condition.

Studies in PubMed

50 (tagged with “Cognitive Dysfunction” as a major topic)

Years

2016–2026

Registered trials

16 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Types of studies

Each study is counted once, under its strongest type in this order: meta-analysis, systematic review, randomized controlled trial, clinical trial, review, observational study.

Studies, newest first

1. Assessment and Management of Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment. — American Society of Clinical Oncology educational book. American Society of Clinical Oncology. Annual Meeting, 2026 · DOIReview
2. Effect of Multi-Modal Training in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial. — Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research, 2026 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
3. Effectiveness of qigong on subjective cognitive function in cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. — European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society, 2026 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
4. Effects of Baduanjin combined with cognitive training in older adults with mild cognitive impairment of mixed etiologies: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. — BMC geriatrics, 2026 · DOI
5. Effects of qigong exercise on post-stroke cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. — Frontiers in neurology, 2026 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
6. Four-Limb Coordinated Training and Neuroplasticity in Older Adults with Cognitive Frailty: Mechanisms and Clinical Evidence. — Clinical interventions in aging, 2026 · DOIReview
7. Meta-Analysis of Treatment Methods for Poststroke Cognitive Impairment: A Network Analysis of Various Interventions. — Brain and behavior, 2026 · DOI
8. Summary of the evidence on TCM nonpharmacological interventions for cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease. — Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.), 2026 · DOIReview
9. The effects of traditional mind-body exercises on cognitive function in neurodegenerative diseases or prodromal cognitive decline: a meta-analysis. — Frontiers in public health, 2026 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
10. A Meta-Analysis of Studies of the Effect of Mind Body Exercise on Various Domains of Cognitive Function in Older People With or Without Mild Cognitive Impairment. — Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine, 2025 · DOIMeta-Analysis
11. Body-mind exercise for cancer-related cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients: a network meta-analysis. — Breast cancer research and treatment, 2025 · DOI
12. Comparative effectiveness of various nonpharmacological interventions, including traditional Chinese medicine-based interventions for cancer-related cognitive impairment: a comprehensive network meta-analysis. — Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2025 · DOI
13. Effect of Baduanjin exercise on lipid profile, blood pressure, and thyroid-stimulating hormone in elderly with subclinical hypothyroidism and mild cognitive impairment: a randomized-controlled trial in women. — Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.), 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
14. Effects of Baduanjin exercise on cognitive impairment in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. — Frontiers in public health, 2025 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
15. Effects of Sitting Baduanjin Exercises on Cognitive Function, Attention, and Muscle Strength among Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment. — Journal of community health nursing, 2025 · DOI
16. Effects of non-pharmacological interventions on cancer-related cognitive impairment in patients with breast cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. — European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society, 2025 · DOISystematic Review
17. Lifestyle-based interventions targeting neurocognition in bipolar disorders - a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. — Psychiatry research, 2025 · DOISystematic Review
18. Optimal dose and type of exercise to improve cognitive function in adults with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and Bayesian model-based network meta-analysis. — Frontiers in public health, 2025 · DOISystematic Review
19. Synergistic effects of multicomponent exercise and rTMS on sarcopenia and mild cognitive impairment in older people: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial. — BMC geriatrics, 2025 · DOI
20. A systematic review of the effect and mechanism of Daoyin therapy on improving mild cognitive impairment in older adults. — Ageing research reviews, 2024 · DOISystematic Review
21. Baduanjin Exercise Improves Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. — The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 2024 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
22. Comparative Effects of Exercise Interventions and Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Cognitive Impairment and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors During or After Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review and Bayesian Network Meta-analysis. — American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation, 2024 · DOISystematic Review
23. Effect of 12-week head-down strong abdominal breathing on cognitive function in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a single-centre randomised controlled trial protocol. — Trials, 2024 · DOI
24. Effectiveness of traditional chinese medicine (TCM) exercise therapy intervention on the cognitive function in the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis. — Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.), 2024 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
25. Mediating role of gut microbiota on Baduanjin for cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. — BMJ open, 2024 · DOI
26. Shen-based Qigong Exercise improves cognitive impairment in stable schizophrenia patients in rehabilitation wards: a randomized controlled study. — BMC psychiatry, 2024 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
27. Utilizing fNIRS to investigate the impact of Baduanjin training on attentional function in post-stroke cognitive impairment patients: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. — BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2024 · DOI
28. [Effects of Qigong on Cancer-Related Fatigue, Sleep Disturbance, Cognitive Impairment, and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis]. — Hu li za zhi The journal of nursing, 2024 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
29. Effect of a Baduanjin intervention on the risk of falls in the elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. — BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2023 · DOI
30. Effects of mind-body exercise Baduanjin on cognition in community-dwelling older people with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial. — Neuropsychological rehabilitation, 2023 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
31. Effects of mind-body exercise on cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A meta-analysis study. — Medicine, 2023 · DOIMeta-Analysis
32. Baduanjin exercise ameliorates motor function in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial. — Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 2022 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
33. Baduanjin for executive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. — Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 2022 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
34. Effects of traditional Chinese medicine-based exercises on cognitive function in older people with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. — Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.), 2022 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
35. Three-month Chan-Chuang qigong program improves physical performance and quality of life of patients with cognitive impairment: A randomized controlled trial. — Research in nursing & health, 2022 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
36. Effect of Baduanjin exercise on the cognitive function of middle-aged and older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. — Complementary therapies in medicine, 2021 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
37. Effectiveness of Yijinjing on cognitive functions in post-stroke patients with mild cognitive impairment: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. — Trials, 2021 · DOI
38. Effects of traditional Chinese exercise on patients with cognitive impairment: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. — Nursing open, 2021 · DOISystematic Review
39. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials assessing the impact of Baduanjin exercise on cognition and memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment. — Clinical rehabilitation, 2021 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
40. Effect of Baduanjin exercise on cognitive function in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial. — Clinical rehabilitation, 2020 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial

10 more studies on PubMed

Registered clinical trials

Government health information

The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health summarizes the evidence on qigong.

Study list: PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), citation data only. Trials: ClinicalTrials.gov. Retrieved 2026-10-22.

Data: PubMed (NLM citation data, free to use (abstracts not reproduced)); ClinicalTrials.gov (Public domain (U.S. Government work)); NCCIH (Public domain (U.S. Government work)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.