Six months ago, researchers from the UCLA published a study that showed that there is a specific type of yoga called Kirtan Kriya meditation whose daily practice reduces stress levels in people caring for those affected by Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Now they know why.
As reported in that first study, practicing this type of Yoga 12 minutes a day for 8 weeks led to a reduction in the biological mechanisms responsible for an increase in the inflammatory response of the immune system. It is known in the medical world that if this inflammatory immune response is constantly activated it can contribute to a multitude of chronic health problems.
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In a report in the current issue of the magazine Psychoneuroendocrinology, Dr. Helen Lavretsky, professor of psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, and colleagues have published their work with 45 caregivers of relatives with dementia. 68 genes of these caregivers responded differently after doing these meditation sessions, leading to a decrease in the inflammatory response of the immune system.
Caring for a family member with Alzheimer's can be a major life stressor. Caregivers have higher levels of stress and depression and lower levels of satisfaction and vitality in your daily life. On the other hand, caregivers show higher levels of inflammation biomarkers and are at risk for stress-related illnesses and deterioration in general health.
Lavretsky noted a dramatic increase in dementia and the number of family caregivers who support those loved ones. Currently, at least 5 million Americans care for a person with dementia.
«We know that caregivers have a higher risk of developing depression. The incidence of clinical depression in caregivers of relatives with dementia is close to 50%. Doctors are also twice as likely to report high levels of emotional distress.
Research has suggested for some time that psychosocial interventions such as meditation reduce the adverse effects of stress on the caregiver. However, the ways in which these psychosocial processes intervene biologically in people are poorly understood.
In the study, the participants were randomly assigned into 2 groups. The meditation group was taught a 12-minute yoga practice (Kirtan Kriya) and it was carried out every day for 8 weeks. The other group was asked to relax in a quiet place with their eyes closed while listening to instrumental music on a relaxation CD, also for 12 minutes a day for 8 weeks. A few blood samples were taken at the beginning and end of the study.
«The objective of the study was to determine if meditation can alter the activity of inflammatory and antiviral proteins that shape the gene expression of immune cells. Our analysis showed a decrease in the activity of these proteins directly linked to increased inflammation. This is encouraging news. Doctors often don't have the time, energy, or connections that could bring some relief from the stress of caring for a loved one with dementia, so practicing this short form of yoga, which is easy to learn, is a useful tool."