Yoga and Meditation Intervention Decreases Depression and Increases Neuroplasticity

by | Mar 30, 2020 | 2018, Alternative Therapies, Brain Health, Depression, Fitness and Exercise

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Study results suggest that yoga- and meditation-based lifestyle interventions decrease depression severity and improve systemic biomarkers of neuroplasticity in patients with major depressive disorder.

yogaMajor depressive disorder (MDD) has been referred to as a modern pandemic 1, affecting almost 40% of the worldwide population 2 and increasing mortality risk by almost 80% 3. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to form new neural connections throughout life, particularly in response to injury or disease, and growing research shows that depression can critically reduce neuroplasticity, especially in the aging brain 4,5. In fact, some emerging forms of treatment for depression, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, specifically aim at increasing neuroplasticity 6, though long-term improvement has not yet been achieved. Other approaches to treating mood disorders are more lifestyle oriented, including yoga and mindfulness meditation 7. Research suggests that yoga and meditation, even at short durations, can increase brain plasticity 8. Though few, some studies show that yoga- and meditation-based lifestyle interventions (YMLI) can improve both emotional functioning and biomarkers of neuroplasticity 9,10. In a 2018 study 11 in New Delhi, researchers tested the effects YMLI on severity of depression and systemic biomarkers of neuroplasticity in MDD patients.

A total of 58 patients (aged 19-50 years) with a diagnosis of MDD were enrolled in a single-arm, parallel, randomized, controlled trial in which they were randomly assigned to YMLI or a control group for 12 weeks. The YMLI program took place five days per week and involved physical posture, breathing exercises, and meditation for 120 minutes each session. At baseline and Week 12, severity of MDD was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and fasting blood samples were collected and analyzed for biomarkers related to neuroplasticity (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF; sirtuin 1; cortisol; interleukin-6, IL-6; dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, DHEAS), markers of oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species, ROS; total antioxidant capacity, TAC), and markers of DNA damage (8OH2dG).

Analyses indicated a significant reduction in BDI-II score (difference between means = -5.83, 95% Confidence Interval: -7.27 to –4.39, p < 0.001) and significant increase in BDNF (ng/ml) (5.48, 95% CI = 3.50 to 7.46, p < 0.001) for the YMLI group, relative to controls, after 12 weeks. The YMLI group also demonstrated a significant increase in circulating DHEAS and sirtuin 1, along with a significant decrease in cortisol and IL-6 (p < 0.05 for all). After 12 weeks, 8OH2dG and ROS also showed significant reduction, with a concomitant elevation in TAC in YMLI participants, compared to controls (p < 0.05 for all). Furthermore, a significant change in BDNF levels x group interaction was found such that the YMLI group showed greater reduction in BDI-II scores as BDNF increased (R2 = 0.183, p < 0.05), while controls showed higher BDI-II scores as BDNF increased (R2 = 0.224, p < 0.01).

Results suggest that 12 weeks of YMLI not only effectively reduces severity of depression in MDD patients, but also significantly improves systemic biomarkers associated with neuroplasticity, including circulating levels of BDNF, cortisol, and sirtuin 1. A key finding of the current study is the association between higher BDNF levels and lower BDI-II scores in the YMLI group, relative to controls, suggesting that such mind-body-based lifestyle interventions may be capable of alleviating depressive symptoms by altering the pathobiological features associated with depression (i.e., reduced neuroplasticity). Researchers suggest that YMLI may be capable of not only mitigating depression, but also promoting long-term longevity. Additional randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm findings in patients with neurodegenerative disease and/or other cognitive-emotional disorders. A potential limitation of the current study is its relatively small sample size and the lack of an active control group.

Source: Tolahunase MR, Sagar R, Faiq M, et al. Yoga- and meditation-based lifestyle intervention increases neuroplasticity and reduces severity of major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience. 2018; 36: 423-442. DOI: 10. 3233/RNN-170810.

© 2018 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved

Posted March 30, 2020.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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