Past research has shown how yoga could help to lower depression and improve cognitive functioning among caregivers -- and now, a new study is showing exactly what is responsible for that effect.
University of California, Los Angeles, researchers found that participating in Kirtan Kriya Meditation -- a kind of yoga practice -- is linked with a decrease in inflammation.
"This is encouraging news," study researcher Dr. Helen Lavretsky, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA, said in a statement. "Caregivers often don't have the time, energy, or contacts that could bring them a little relief from the stress of taking care of a loved one with dementia, so practicing a brief form of yogic meditation, which is easy to learn, is a useful too."
The new study, published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, included 45 caregivers for family members with dementia who were split up into two groups: one that did the 12-minute yoga practice once a day for eight weeks, and one that just listened to relaxing music for 12 minutes once a day for eight weeks.
