Yoga offers distinct cognitive advantages to older women vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease

Led by UCLA Health psychiatrist Dr. Helen Lavretsky of the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, the study aimed to assess if certain types of yoga could mitigate cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease trajectories in postmenopausal women, who face approximately twice the risk of developing the condition compared to men, attributed to factors such as longer life expectancy, menopausal estrogen level changes, and genetics.

For the study, over 60 women aged 50 and above with self-reported memory problems and cerebrovascular risk factors were recruited from a UCLA cardiology clinic. They were split into two groups: one engaged in weekly Kundalini yoga sessions for 12 weeks, while the other underwent weekly memory enhancement training. Researchers evaluated cognition, subjective memory, depression, and anxiety after the initial 12 weeks and again 12 weeks later to evaluate the sustainability of any improvements. Blood samples were collected to analyse gene expression related to ageing markers and inflammation, both linked to Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, a subset of patients underwent MRIs to examine brain matter changes.

The findings revealed that participants in the Kundalini yoga group experienced several enhancements not observed in the memory enhancement training group. These included notable improvements in subjective memory complaints, prevention of brain matter declines, heightened connectivity in the hippocampus responsible for stress-related memories, and positive changes in peripheral cytokines and gene expression of anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing molecules.

"That is what yoga is good for -- to reduce stress, to improve brain health, subjective memory performance and reduce inflammation and improve neuroplasticity," concluded Lavretsky.

References: Adrienne Grzenda, Prabha Siddarth, Michaela M. Milillo, Yesenia Aguilar-Faustino, Dharma S. Khalsa, Helen Lavretsky. Cognitive and immunological effects of yoga compared to memory training in older women at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Translational Psychiatry, 2024; 14 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02807-0