The Roles of Exercise and Yoga in Ameliorating Depression as a Risk Factor for Cognitive Decline

Abstract

Currently, there are no effective pharmaceutical treatments to reduce cognitive decline or prevent dementia. At the same time, the global population is aging, and rates of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are on the rise. As such, there is an increasing interest in complementary and alternative interventions to treat or reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Depression is one potentially modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. Notably, exercise and yoga are two interventions known to both reduce symptoms of depression and improve cognitive function. The current review discusses the efficacy of exercise and yoga to ameliorate depression and thereby reduce the risk of cognitive decline and potentially prevent dementia. Potential mechanisms of change, treatment implications, and future directions are discussed.

Effectiveness of Yoga as the Public Health Intervention Module in the Management of Diabetes and Diabetes Associated Dementia in South East Asia: A Narrative Review

“…In the postmodern scenario, with increase in lifestyle disorders, the pharmacological efforts have not yielded much promising results and lead to the re-emergence of alternative therapies [90]. Although physical exercise has been documented for weight management and lifestyle modification, Yoga scores high based on an overall wellbeing and whole-body treatment.…”

Role of green tea catechins in prevention of age‐related cognitive decline: Pharmacological targets and clinical perspective

“…In neural tissue, mTOR and its downstream signaling pathways are essential for maintaining neuronal recovery, memory retention, as well as synaptic plasticity (Tramutola, Lanzillotta, & Di Domenico, 2017). Proteases such as neuropsin that are present in the synaptic cleft and cleave cell adhesion molecules are capable of synaptic remodeling as well as synaptic connectivity and plasticity (Konar et al, 2016) (Eckert, 2010;Mathersul & Rosenbaum, 2016). Natural diets with significant preventative effects on cognitive decline include fruits and vegetables, natural antioxidant agents as well as natural omega-3 from nuts and flaxseed.…”

Physical Activity, Yoga and their Psychological Effects

“…It was found that physical activity ameliorated depression and decreased the risk of suicidal behaviour. Coping with depression prevents the impairment of cognitive functions later in life (Mathersul and Rosenbaum, 2016) and premature death. Siqueira et al (2016) came to similar conclusions and these authors found that physical activity enhanced the effect of antidepressants.…”