NCT07322952Completed
Cognitively Enhanced Tai Chi for Executive Function in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Cognitively Enhanced Tai Chi for Executive Function in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Three-Arm Assessor-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 15 Oct 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
This study compares three exercise courses for children aged 8-11 years with autism spectrum disorder: Tai Chi with added cognitive challenges, standard Tai Chi, and general exercise. The main question is whether adding cognitive challenges to the same adapted Tai Chi movements improves inhibitory control, working memory and cognitive flexibility more than standard Tai Chi. General exercise provides an active comparison. The planned enrollment target was 165 children. Recruitment has closed with 158 eligible children enrolled. Children were individually randomized within their original school classrooms using a target allocation ratio of 2:2:1. All groups continued their usual necessary educational, rehabilitation and medical services. Courses took place at Chaozhou Special Education School. Each group received 72 sessions over 6 calendar months: 24 teaching weeks, 3 sessions per week, and 45 minutes per session, from December 25, 2025 to June 25, 2026. Children attended supported training groups of 4-6, and follow-up continued for 3 months after the courses ended, with visits 1 month (month 7) and 3 months (month 9) later. The three primary outcomes are accuracy on the existing short Flanker, 1-back and Dimensional Change Card Sort tasks at month 6. Trained computerized-task assessors were kept unaware of course allocation. Supportive secondary outcomes are task reaction times, selected parent and teacher Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory scores, and the parent Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire impact score. Computerized tasks and the Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory were collected at baseline and months 3, 6, 7 and 9. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was completed at baseline and month 6.
- Status (registry)
- Completed
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 158 (actual)
- First submitted
- 22 Dec 2025
- Start date
- 24 Dec 2025
- Primary completion date
- 25 Jun 2026
- Lead sponsor
- Jinan University Guangzhou
- Diseases
- Autism
- NCT number
- NCT07322952
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Participants enrolled: 158
- From 24 Dec 2025 to the primary completion date, 25 Jun 2026
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Systematic Tai Chi, martial arts, or dedicated executive function training within the previous 3 months.
- Comorbid ADHD and stable medication are not automatic exclusions.
Other illness
- Uncontrolled medical conditions that affect exercise safety.
- Uncontrolled epilepsy.
- Psychiatric or behavioral conditions requiring acute management at enrollment.
Who the study is looking for
- Age 8 to 11 years at baseline (at least 8 years old and younger than 12 years).
- Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder made by a qualified child psychiatrist or developmental-behavioral pediatrician according to DSM-5 criteria, with the diagnostic documentation verified by the study team.
- Full-scale IQ of at least 70 on the Mainland Chinese version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV), assessed before randomization.
- Able to understand one simple action instruction and to signal stop or rest with reasonable visual prompts, demonstration, or existing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
- Able to take part safely in low- to moderate-intensity group physical activity with reasonable support.
- Written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian, plus ongoing child assent appropriate to the child's level of understanding.
Age in the registry: 8 years to 11 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaozhou Special Education School Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Chaozhou | China | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.