A 12-week yoga program (postures, breathing exercises, and meditation) for 30 older adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease improved their quality of life. Depression scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale fell from about 8.4 to 5.1, and cognitive scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment rose from about 18.2 to 21.1, with gains in language, attention, and delayed recall. Caregiver burden also decreased. The results suggest that a structured mind-body intervention can benefit both patients and their caregivers.
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.