AIIMS Research: Memory of Alzheimer’s patients improved with 12 weeks of yoga, good bacteria in the stomach also increased.

Every year on 21st June the whole world celebrates International Yoga Day with great enthusiasm. This year the theme of Yoga Day has been kept as ‘Yoga for Healthy Aging’. The interesting thing is that this time this theme is not just a social message but also seems to be strengthened through modern medical science and scientific research. Researchers at Delhi-based All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have made a very surprising and positive revelation in their recent study.

AIIMS study: Big impact on early Alzheimer’s patients

This latest research published in the ‘Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease’ has been done jointly by the Anatomy Department and Neurology Department of AIIMS Delhi. Patients suffering from mild Alzheimer’s and mild amnesia were included in this study. These participants participated in yoga sessions under the supervision of experts for 60 minutes daily for 12 consecutive weeks. At the beginning and end of the research, the patients’ mental ability, symptoms of depression and the composition of bacteria present in their intestines were closely evaluated.

Surprising results: Memory improved, depression reduced

After this 12-week yoga program, miraculous and positive changes were seen in the patients on three main levels:

• Improves cognitive ability: On the basis of ‘Montreal Cognitive Assessment’ it was found that doing yoga significantly improved the memory and mental ability of the patients.
• Relief from depression: A significant reduction in depression and depressive symptoms, as measured through the PHQ-9 scale, was observed.
• Changes in Gut Microbiome: The most surprising change was seen inside the stomach. Beneficial bacteria for the body after yoga sessions like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia intestinalis, bifidobacterium And akkermansia There was a huge increase in the number. These bacteria produce ‘short-chain fatty acids’, which reduce inflammation in the body and improve brain and intestinal health. At the same time, harmful bacteria that increase inflammation (e.g. collinsella aerofaciens And klebsiella) decreased significantly.

What is the science behind this? Role of ‘gut-brain axis’

Medical experts believe that the reason behind this entire improvement ‘Gut-Brain Axis’ That means the mutual relationship between stomach and brain plays an important role. Professor of the Department of Anatomy of AIIMS and the lead researcher of this study. Dr. Reema Dada told, “This study provides a strong initial indication that lifestyle-based activities like yoga can help create a healthy microbiome environment in the gut. The increase in beneficial bacteria and reduction in the harmful microbiome are directly linked to biological processes that improve brain health.”

Is yoga a complete cure for Alzheimer’s?

Amidst this important discovery, the head of the Neurology Department of AIIMS Delhi Dr. Manjari Tripathi Clarifying the situation, he said that yoga cannot be considered as a complete or sole cure for Alzheimer’s. However, for early stage patients and people with mild cognitive impairment, it can prove to be very useful as an excellent and effective ‘supportive therapy’. However, the researchers have also admitted that the sample size (number of patients) of this study was still small, hence it is not considered a final conclusion and further research is needed on a larger scale.

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