Mind-Body Interventions as Modulators of Neural Connectivity and Cognition in Individuals at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review.
Dwivedi Krishna, Avinash Chandra Pandey, Saurav Nilesh, Sridam Ananda, Jyoti Amit Singh, Amit Singh
Annals of Neurosciences May 31, 2026 DOI: 10.1177/09727531261441080 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Individuals with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, or subjective memory decline |
| Interventions | yoga meditation |
| Topics | Breathwork Meditation |
| Keywords | Alzheimer’s disease Cognition Neural connectivity Yoga |
| Key findings | Yoga, meditation, and related mind-body interventions improved memory, attention, executive functions, mood, and quality of life, and showed neurobiological benefits including hippocampal volume preservation and reduced neuroinflammation markers in populations at risk of Alzheimer's disease. |
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, contributing to nearly 60%-70% of dementia cases. Current pharmacological treatments provide limited symptomatic relief and minimal efficacy in altering disease progression, highlighting the need for complementary interventions. Mind-body practices such as yoga and meditation are increasingly explored for preserving cognitive abilities and reducing neurodegenerative risk. This systematic review evaluated randomized controlled trials investigating yoga, meditation, and related mind-body interventions on cognitive and neural health in individuals with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, or subjective memory decline. Following PRISMA guidelines, studies published up to March 2025 were reviewed. Findings showed improvements in memory, attention, executive functions, mood, and quality of life. Neurobiological benefits included preservation of hippocampal volume, improved functional connectivity, increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, and reduced neuroinflammation markers. However, methodological limitations such as small sample sizes and short intervention durations were common. Mind-body interventions show promising cognitive and neurobiological benefits in populations at risk of AD. Yoga and meditation may serve as feasible, cost-effective complementary approaches alongside conventional therapy. Larger long-term clinical trials are needed to establish standardized protocols and sustained therapeutic effectiveness.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on breathwork, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pranayamas and their neurophysiological effects | 2020 | Systematic review | |
| Implication of asana, pranayama and meditation on telomere stability | 2018 | Systematic review | |
| Effect of a single session of yoga and meditation on stress reactivity: A systematic review. Healthy adults | 2024 | Systematic review | n = 2,574 |
| The role of non-ordinary states of consciousness occasioned by mind-body practices in mental health illness. | 2023 | Systematic review | |
| Effect of Meditation, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Relaxation Techniques as Mind-Body Medicine Practices to Reduce Blood Pressure in Cardiac Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Patients with cardiovascular disease | 2024 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | n = 927 |
Citations in the library
Cites 18
- Mindfulness meditation training alters cortical representations of interoceptive attention Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience June 11, 2012
- Mindfulness starts with the body: somatosensory attention and top-down modulation of cortical alpha rhythms in mindfulness meditation Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2013
- Interoceptive awareness in experienced meditators Psychophysiology May 22, 2008
- Interoception Drives Increased Rational Decision-Making in Meditators Playing the Ultimatum Game Frontiers in Neuroscience 2011
- Increased gray matter volume in the right angular and posterior parahippocampal gyri in loving-kindness meditators Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience July 18, 2012
and 13 more in the library