A systematic review of the health effects of yoga for people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia

This systematic review examined the effects of yoga on individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, analyzing ten studies with 421 participants. The findings suggest yoga may improve cognition, mood, balance, and sleep quality. Programs using Kundalini, chair, or Hatha yoga typically lasted 12 weeks and were compared to active or no-intervention controls. However, all studies showed a high risk of bias due to small sample sizes and inconsistent methodologies. The review highlights yoga's potential as a safe and accessible intervention to support brain health and emotional well-being, though higher-quality trials are necessary.

Consider incorporating gentle yoga practices such as chair or Kundalini yoga into routines for improving mood, balance, and cognitive health. Aim for 2–3 supervised sessions per week for at least 12 weeks. While current evidence shows potential benefits, these findings are based on small, biased studies. Future research is needed to validate these effects in larger and more diverse populations.