Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that engages the mind and body through physical poses, breathing techniques, and meditation. Robust scientific evidence suggests that yoga benefits both mental and physical health. A new study found that Kundalini yoga – a type of yoga that involves specific postures, breathing techniques, and meditation – boosted cognition and memory in older women at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The study involved 63 older women who had self-reported memory problems and cerebrovascular conditions – risk factors for Alzheimer’s. About half the women participated in a weekly yoga session, while the other half participated in weekly memory training. Researchers assessed the women’s cognitive function and moods before and after the two interventions. They also measured markers of aging and inflammation in the women’s blood and assessed changes in their brains using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

They found that the women who participated in yoga experienced marked improvements in memory, increased connectivity in the hippocampus, and increased expression of anti-inflammatory and anti-aging markers** compared to those who did memory work only. The MRIs revealed that the brains of the women in the yoga group showed less age-related volume loss.

Women are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than men, partly due to having higher rates of cardiovascular conditions, many of which share risk factors with Alzheimer’s. In addition, the decrease in protective estrogen during menopause may also amplify cognitive declines.

These findings suggest that Kundalini yoga benefits women at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Evidence indicates that vigorous exercise can boost cognitive function, too. Learn more in this episode featuring Dr. Martin Gibala.

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