Positive Health Online

Abstract

GRZENDA and COLLEAGUES,  (1)Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA; (2)UCLA-Olive View Medical Center, Sylmar, CA, USA; (3)Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation, Tucson, AZ, USA; (4)Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA. hlavretsky@mednet.ucla.edu  .conducted a randomized, controlled trial to assess the efficacy of Kundalini yoga training (KY) compared to memory enhancement training (MET) on mood and cognitive functioning in a group of older women with cerebrovascular risk factors  (CVRFs) and Subjective cognitive decline (SCD.

Background

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) accompanied by cerebrovascular risk factors (CVRFs) are known to increase the risk of developing dementia. Mind-body practices such as yoga and meditation, have been recognized as safe techniques with beneficial effects on cognitive functions in older adults at risk for cognitive decline.

Methodology

We conducted a randomized, controlled trial to assess the efficacy of Kundalini yoga training (KY) compared to memory enhancement training (MET) on mood and cognitive functioning in a group of older women with CVRFs and SCD (clinicaltrials.gov = NCT03503669). The KY intervention consisted of weekly, 60-min in-person classes with a certified instructor for 12 weeks, with a 12-min guided recording for daily homework practice at home. MET involved 12 weekly in-person group classes with 12-min daily homework exercises.

Results

Objective and subjective memory performance were the primary outcomes. Peripheral whole blood samples were collected at baseline, 12-weeks, and 24-weeks follow-up for RNA sequencing and cytokine/chemokine assays. A total of 79 patients (KY = 40; MET = 39) were randomized, and 63 completed the 24-week follow-up (KY = 65% completion rate; MET = 95%; χ2(1) = 10.9, p < 0.001). At 24-weeks follow-up, KY yielded a significant, large effect size improvement in subjective cognitive impairment measures compared to MET. KY On a transcriptional level, at 12- and 24-week follow-up, KY uniquely altered aging-associated signatures, including interferon gamma and other psycho-neuro-immune pathways. Levels of chemokine eotaxin-1, an aging marker, increased over time in MET but not KY participants.

Conclusion

These results suggest clinical and biological benefits of KY for SCD, linking changes in cognition to the anti-inflammatory effects of yoga. © 2024. The Author(s). Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no competing interests.

References

Grzenda A(1)(2), Siddarth P(1), Milillo MM(1), Aguilar-Faustino Y(1), Khalsa DS(3), Lavretsky H(4). Cognitive and immunological effects of yoga compared to memory training in older women at risk for alzheimer's disease.  Transl Psychiatry.  ;14(1):96. DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02807-0 . Feb 14 2024.

Comment

The results of the above research suggest clinical and biological benefits of Kundalini yoga training (KY) for Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), linking changes in cognition to the anti-inflammatory effects of yoga