How Yoga Can Help People with
Alzheimer’s Disease
Yoga can provide a
whole new level of self-discovery and personal growth. Apart from that, a group
of neuroscientists at UCLA has found out that constant practice of yoga for three
months can minimize the emotional and cognitive problems associated with dementia
and Alzheimer’s disease. The pilot study further revealed that yoga could
manage cognitive impairment better. According to Helen Lavretsky, yoga has
broader benefits than memory training since it supports our coping skills.
Yoga Therapy for Patients with
Alzheimer’s Disease
The study published
in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease compares the result of yoga against
memory training. Twenty-five participants over the age of 55 were divided into
two groups; yoga which involves meditation, and the memory training group that
comes with interactive computer programs and crossword puzzles. All of these
participants have reported a problem in their memory, like misplacing items and
forgetting appointments and dates. The brain activity and behavior of the participants
were recorded before the study. Furthermore, they also underwent brain scans
and memory tests before and after the program.
The Process of the Yoga Study
Eleven of the
participants have received a memory training enhancement for at least 1hour per
week. They are also exposed to memory exercises for 20 minutes each day. These
exercises involve visual and verbal association and strategies for enhancing
memory. The remaining participants are asked to go to a yoga class for 1
hour/week. They are also requested to perform a Kirtan Kriya for 20 minutes per
day. Kirtan Kriya is a meditation technique practiced in India for ages to prevent
the cognitive decline of the older population.
The Result
The 12-week study
shows a similar result on the group who participated in the memory training.
However, those who belong to the yoga group had a noticeable improvement in visual-spatial
memory. Aside from that, the yoga group also shows a significant decline in
anxiety and depression. They also enhance their resilience against stress and
advance their coping mechanism. When someone is experiencing memory loss, you
will constantly feel anxious, eventually leading to depression.
Yoga has long been
related to the reduction of stress. It also helps maintain the ideal body
weight; lower the possibility of contracting heart ailments, and enhance our
balance. With the help of this study, it seems that we can already add the
improvement of brain function to this list. Alzheimer’s patients normally have
trouble remembering long-term memories, but the things that happened in a span
of 5 minutes will prove to be more challenging. People who practice yoga are
now more confident in discussing their memories, helping the practitioner
achieve peace and calmness.
With the different
benefits of yoga, we only hope that yoga will become more accessible to various
people affected by memory problems. In addition, individuals providing care for
the patient can also experience fatigue and frustration. With yoga, they can
immediately replenish their energy and eliminate their stress.
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