Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimers disease, or pre-senile dementia is characterized by changes in thinking, behavior, and feeling. Neurophysiologically, Beta amyloid plaques develop in the central nervous system, and Tau proteins become disrupted, eventually causing cell death. One positive study involves Kriya yoga, with chanting, hand movements and devotional activities were as effective in restoring default mode networks as the most effective memory enhancement programs. References: McCaffrey R, Park J, Newman D, Hagen D. The effect of chair yoga in older adults with moderate and severe Alzheimer’s disease. Res Gerontol Nurs. 2014 Jul-Aug;7(4):171-7. Lavretsky H Complementary and alternative medicine use for treatment and prevention of late-life mood and cognitive disorders. Aging Health 2009;5, 61–78. Gothe NP , Kramer AF , McAuley E The effects of an 8-week Hatha yoga intervention on executive function in older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sc 2014; 69, 1109–1116. Hariprasad VR , Koparde V , Sivakumar PT , Varambally S , Thirthalli J , Varghese M , Basavaraddi IV , Gangadhar BN Randomized clinical trial of yoga-based intervention in residents from elderly homes: Effects on cognitive function. Indian J Psychiatry 2013; 55, S357–S363. • Eyre HA, Acevedo B, Yang H, et al. Changes in Neural Connectivity and Memory Following a Yoga Intervention for Older Adults: A Pilot Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2016;52(2):673-84. doi: 10.3233/