3rd Edition of Dementia World Conference 2026

Abstract

Background and objective: Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant challenge, profoundly impacting individuals' quality of life. The interplay between lifestyle factors and cognitive decline underscores the need for innovative therapeutic approaches. This study explores the potential of a 12-week yoga intervention tailored to improve the multifaceted aspects of quality of life in individuals with mild to moderate AD.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 30 participants (18 males and 12 females) aged over 60 years, recruited from the Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Participants underwent a 12-week yoga intervention, consisting of daily hour-long sessions, five days a week. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were used to evaluate quality of life. Results: The AD patient cohort showed statistically significant improvements (P < 0.001) in quality of life, as evidenced by GDS and MoCA scores. GDS scores improved from 8.36 ± 2.7 pre-yoga to 5.13 ± 3.0 post-yoga, while MoCA scores increased from 18.23 ± 4.9 pre-yoga to 21.1 ± 5.4 post-yoga. Conclusions: This study highlights the transformative potential of a 12-week yoga program, demonstrating significant enhancements in the quality of life for individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, quality of life, yoga, Geriatric Depression Scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment.