Abstract

This study was a exploring survey for estimating the effects of Dahanjeon practice on memory and cognitive ability in Korean elderly. The 40 healthy elderly breathing training subjects in Kouk Sun Do Dahnjeon Breathing Training Center in Seoul and 30 non-training subjects were investigated from March 1997 to April 1997 and December 1 to 31, Two self-reported scales were employed: the Samsung Hospital Memory Ability Scale for the Elderly for memory ability and the MMSE-K (Kwon & Park, 1989)) for the cognitive ability. There was significant difference in memory scores (t=-2.97, p=0.03) and cognitive scores (t=3.45, p=0.001) between 2 groups. The memory ability of training group was 2.01 times higher than non-training group. The cognitive ability of training group was 1.60 times higher than non-training group. In training group, there was a significant difference in memory ability by gender difference (t=2.09, p=0.03) and Chi vibration experience(t=2.05, p=0.02). There was also group difference in cognitive ability by educational background(F=3.16, p=0.001). This study suggests that the Dahnjeon breating practice might be a physically and psychologically effective intervention for the elderly in order to enhance cognitive ability including memory ability.

• Keywords: Dhanjean breathing, elderly health, cognitive effect, memory ability;