Clinical evidence on yoga and the risk of dementia or cognitive decline: A narrative review

Abstract

Yoga, a form of mind–body training integrating physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation, has garnered interest as a nonpharmacological intervention to preserve cognitive function in aging populations. This narrative review synthesizes findings from 19 empirical studies, including 2 integrative/systematic reviews, examining the effects of yogabased interventions on cognitive outcomes among older adults at risk for or experiencing cognitive decline, as well as among caregivers of persons with dementia. The included studies comprised predominantly randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating diverse yoga modalities, including Hatha, Kundalini, and mindfulness-based yoga, over intervention periods ranging from 8 to 24 weeks. Across the analyzed trials, yoga consistently improved attention, processing speed, memory, and executive function compared with active or wait-list control interventions. Neuroimaging studies demonstrated enhanced hippocampal connectivity and attenuation of gray matter atrophy. The mechanisms by which yoga confers its benefits may include stress reduction, upregulation of neurotrophic factors, and improved cerebral perfusion. Despite promising results, heterogeneity in study designs, small sample sizes, and short follow-up durations limit the generalizability of our findings. Hence, future large-scale, standardized RCTs with longitudinal follow-up and biomarker assessments are warranted to confirm the role of yoga in mitigating cognitive decline.