Yoga- and meditation-based lifestyle intervention increases neuroplasticity and reduces severity of major depressive disorder: A randomized controlled trial.
Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience January 1, 2018 Madhuri R Tolahunase, Rajesh Sagar, Muneeb Faiq et al.
A 12-week yoga- and meditation-based lifestyle intervention (YMLI) added to routine drug treatment significantly reduced depression severity and improved biomarkers of neuroplasticity in adults with major depressive disorder. Compared to a control group, YMLI led to a decrease in Beck Depression Inventory-II scores by an average of 5.83 points and an increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) by 5.48 ng/ml. The intervention also increased DHEAS, sirtuin 1, and telomerase activity, while decreasing cortisol, IL-6, DNA damage, and balancing oxidative stress. Changes in BDNF were linked to reduced depression severity, with sirtuin 1, telomerase activity, and cortisol levels predicting this association. The findings suggest YMLI may be a useful therapeutic addition for managing MDD.