Cognitive and immunological effects of yoga compared to memory training in older women at risk for alzheimer’s disease
Abstract 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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Publishing Group
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Translational Psychiatry |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-02807-0 |
| _version_ | 1797273087202295808 |
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| author | Adrienne Grzenda Prabha Siddarth Michaela M. Milillo Yesenia Aguilar-Faustino Dharma S. Khalsa Helen Lavretsky |
| author_facet | Adrienne Grzenda Prabha Siddarth Michaela M. Milillo Yesenia Aguilar-Faustino Dharma S. Khalsa Helen Lavretsky |
| author_sort | Adrienne Grzenda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract 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. 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. 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. KYOn 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. These results suggest clinical and biological benefits to KY for SCD, linking changes in cognition to the anti-inflammatory effects of yoga. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:39:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-24cf13139273401ea6b3fc14c5982632 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2158-3188 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:39:29Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Translational Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-24cf13139273401ea6b3fc14c59826322024-03-05T20:26:47ZengNature Publishing GroupTranslational Psychiatry2158-31882024-02-0114111110.1038/s41398-024-02807-0Cognitive and immunological effects of yoga compared to memory training in older women at risk for alzheimer’s diseaseAdrienne Grzenda0Prabha Siddarth1Michaela M. Milillo2Yesenia Aguilar-Faustino3Dharma S. Khalsa4Helen Lavretsky5Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, UCLADepartment of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, UCLADepartment of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, UCLADepartment of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, UCLAAlzheimer’s Research and Prevention FoundationDepartment of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, UCLAAbstract 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. 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. 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. KYOn 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. These results suggest clinical and biological benefits to KY for SCD, linking changes in cognition to the anti-inflammatory effects of yoga.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-02807-0 |
| spellingShingle | 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 |
| title | Cognitive and immunological effects of yoga compared to memory training in older women at risk for alzheimer’s disease |
| title_full | Cognitive and immunological effects of yoga compared to memory training in older women at risk for alzheimer’s disease |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive and immunological effects of yoga compared to memory training in older women at risk for alzheimer’s disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive and immunological effects of yoga compared to memory training in older women at risk for alzheimer’s disease |
| title_short | Cognitive and immunological effects of yoga compared to memory training in older women at risk for alzheimer’s disease |
| title_sort | cognitive and immunological effects of yoga compared to memory training in older women at risk for alzheimer s disease |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-02807-0 |
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