Randomized, controlled, six-month trial of yoga in healthy seniors: effects on cognition and quality of life.
BACKGROUND
There are potential benefits of mind-body techniques on cognitive function because the techniques involve an active attentional or mindfulness component, but this has not been fully explored.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of yoga on cognitive function, fatigue, mood, and quality of life in seniors.


METHODS
Randomized, controlled trial comparing yoga, exercise, and wait-list control groups.


METHODS
One hundred thirty-five generally healthy men and women aged 65-85 years.


METHODS
Participants were randomized to 6 months of Hatha yoga class, walking exercise class, or wait-list control. Subjects assigned to classes also were asked to practice at home.


METHODS
Outcome assessments performed at baseline and after the 6-month period included a battery of cognitive measures focused on attention and alertness, the primary outcome measures being performance on the Stroop Test and a quantitative electroencephalogram (EEG) measure of alertness; SF-36 health-related quality of life; Profile of Mood States; Multi-Dimensional Fatigue Inventory; and physical measures related to the interventions.


RESULTS
One hundred thirty-five subjects were recruited and randomized. Seventeen subjects did not finish the 6-month intervention. There were no effects from either of the active interventions on any of the cognitive and alertness outcome measures. The yoga intervention produced improvements in physical measures (eg, timed 1-legged standing, forward flexibility) as well as a number of quality-of-life measures related to sense of well-being and energy and fatigue compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
There were no relative improvements of cognitive function among healthy seniors in the yoga or exercise group compared to the wait-list control group. Those in the yoga group showed significant improvement in quality-of-life and physical measures compared to exercise and wait-list control groups.
Oken
Barry S
BS
Department of Neurology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
Zajdel
Daniel
D
Kishiyama
Shirley
S
Flegal
Kristin
K
Dehen
Cathleen
C
Haas
Mitchell
M
Kraemer
Dale F
DF
Lawrence
Julie
J
Leyva
Joanne
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015013:Yoga