Three people practicing yoga in a tropical atmosphere.

Study on yoga on the ageing process of the brain

Tim Gard et al.

April 2014

Yoga

Researchers from various institutes and universities in the USA, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany conducted a study to investigate the influence of yoga and meditation on the age-related decline in neuronal structures, functions and cognitive performance. The sample consisted of 47 middle-aged subjects: 16 yoga practitioners, 16 meditation practitioners and 15 control subjects.

Fluid and verbal intelligence, cognitive functions, attention and the flow of information between brain regions in the resting state were analyzed. The data showed that fluid intelligence declined more slowly in the yoga and meditation group than in the control group and that the functional network was less susceptible to damage in the resting state. Attention correlated positively with these results.

The study reveals possibilities for increasing neuronal resilience and slowing down the age-related decline in fluid intelligence and functional information transmission in the brain through yoga and meditation.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: age-related cognitive decline, old age
Institution: Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Charlestown, Boston, MA, USA
Title: Study on yoga on the ageing process of the brain
Brief description: Study shows that yoga and meditation slow down the age-related decline in neuronal structures.
Original title: Fluid intelligence and brain functional organization in aging yoga and meditation practitioners
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24795629/