pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized clinical trial of yoga-based intervention in residents from elderly homes: Effects on cognitive function - PubMed

Randomized clinical trial of yoga-based intervention in residents from elderly homes: Effects on cognitive function

V R Hariprasad et al. Indian J Psychiatry. 2013 Jul.

Abstract

Context: Elderly have increased risk for cognitive impairment and dementia. Yoga therapy may be helpful in elderly to improve cognitive function.

Aims: We examined the benefits of yoga-based intervention compared with waitlist control group on cognitive function in the residents of elderly homes.

Settings and design: Single blind controlled study with block randomization of elderly homes.

Materials and methods: Study sample included yoga group (n=62) and waitlist group (n=58). A total of 87 subjects (yoga=44, waitlist=43) completed the study period of 6 months. Yoga group received daily yoga sessions for 1 month, weekly until 3(rd) month and encouraged to continue unsupervised until 6 months. They were assessed on Rey's Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Rey's complex figure test (CFT), Wechsler's Memory Scale (WMS)-digit and spatial span, Controlled Oral Word Association (COWA) test, Stroop Color Word Interference Test and Trail Making Test A and B at baseline and at the end of 6(th) month.

Statistical analysis: Paired t-test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to compare the difference in neuropsychological test scores.

Results: Yoga group showed significant improvement in immediate and delayed recall of verbal (RAVLT) and visual memory (CFT), attention and working memory (WMS-spatial span), verbal fluency (COWA), executive function (Stroop interference) and processing speed (Trail Making Test-A) than waitlist group at the end of 6 months after correcting for corresponding baseline score and education.

Conclusion: Yoga based-intervention appears beneficial to improve several domains of cognitive function in elderly living in residential care homes. Study findings need to be interpreted after considering methodological limitations like lack of active comparison group.

Keywords: Cognitive function; elderly; yoga.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1

Consort flow chart

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Shaji KS, Jotheeswaran AT, Girish N, Bharath S, Dias A, Pattabiraman M, et al. New Delhi: Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI); 2010. The Dementia India Report: Prevalence, Impact, Costs and Services for Dementia.
    1. Kramer AF, Erickson KI, Colcombe SJ. Exercise, cognition, and the aging brain. J Appl Physiol. 2006;101:1237–42. - PubMed
    1. Larson EB, Wang L, Bowen JD, McCormick WC, Teri L, Crane P, et al. Exercise is associated with reduced risk for incident dementia among persons 65 years of age and older. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144:73–81. - PubMed
    1. Podewils LJ, Guallar E, Kuller LH, Fried LP, Lopez OL, Carlson M, et al. Physical activity, APOE genotype, and dementia risk: Findings from the cardiovascular health cognition study. Am J Epidemiol. 2005;161:639–51. - PubMed
    1. Geda YE, Roberts RO, Knopman DS, Christianson TJ, Pankratz VS, Ivnik RJ, et al. Physical exercise, aging, and mild cognitive impairment: A population-based study. Arch Neurol. 2010;67:80–6. - PMC - PubMed