Greater Anteroposterior Default Mode Network Functional Connectivity in Long-Term Elderly Yoga Practitioners
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience July 2, 2019 Danilo Forghieri Santaella, Joana Bisol Balardin, Rui F. Afonso et al. 37 citations
Long-term elderly Hatha Yoga practitioners show greater functional connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and the right angular gyrus, key nodes of the default mode network, compared to non-practitioners matched for age, education, and physical activity. This cross-sectional study of 20 women who practiced yoga at least twice weekly for eight or more years and 20 yoga-naïve controls found no group differences in cognitive screening, depression scores, or daily living activities. The enhanced anteroposterior connectivity within the default mode network may reflect a neural correlate of healthier cognitive aging associated with sustained yoga practice.