G. SVYASA Ph. D. Theses
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Yoga Theses by Yoga PhD Students at SVYASA. These pages present some efforts at Scientific Validation of Yoga. You may receive full text of available yoga research papers
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Item Prefrontal oxygenation changes associated with working memory following yoga practice in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients(S-VYASA, 2023-12-14) Chidananda Kaligal; Deepeshwar SinghBACKGROUND In recent years, cognitive impairments and dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) have been recognized as common complications and comorbidities of Type1 diabetes (T1DM) and Type2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is estimated that 7% of people aged 60–64 are affected by mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and that 25% may develop cognitive impairment as they get older. It has been found that the risk of converting mild cognitive impairment to dementia is 1.53 times higher in individuals with diabetes. Diabetes-related complications, such as glucose and insulin imbalances, microvascular and macrovascular complications significantly predispose patients to the progression of MCI and dementia. Additionally, several risk factors for cognitive dysfunction in diabetes were identified, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, depression, age, duration of diabetes, genetic factors and educational level of patients. Brain imaging studies show that T2DM is associated with both degenerative and vascular brain damage, which is likely to contribute to abnormalities in brain functional and structural connectivity leading to cognitive dysfunction. It has been found that, even at an early stage of cognitive decline, there was a clear abnormality in cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation parameters. Working memory, a cognitive ability that enables one to actively maintain and manipulate information and forms an essential part of the human memory system, is implicated along with other cognitive functions such as attention, executive function, verbal memory and information processing speed. Besides medications, non-pharmacological approaches such as physical exercise, yoga, computer-based training, nutrition, brain stimulation, sleep, and music are gaining importance in treating cognitive deficits. Yoga has been one such non-pharmacological approach gaining popularity as a form of complementary and alternative medicine worldwide and its therapeutic benefits are being explored in various clinical conditions. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The study investigated the effect of yoga practice on oxygenation changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) associated with working memory in T2DM participants. The study also examined the effects of yoga practice on heart rate variability and psychological conditions (rumination x and preservative thinking). The objectives of the study were to assess the effect of 12-week yoga practice in T2DM participants on Oxygenation in the PFC region during resting and while performing a working memory task Working memory performance – accuracy and reaction time Resting-state heart rate variability Psychological conditions, namely rumination and perseverative thinking METHODS Participants: Participants were, both male and female, with ages ranging from 35 to 65 years, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus based on established criteria including medical history, medication use, glucose levels and undergoing conventional treatment. Design: This study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The participants were randomized into two groups, the yoga and waitlist control groups. Assessments: The pre- (day 1), mid- (6 weeks) and post-intervention (12 weeks) assessments included measurement of PFC oxygenation while performing working memory tasks (n-back) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The Accuracy and Reaction time of working memory performance were assessed. Heart rate variability parameters such as mean heart rate (HR), Square Root of the Mean Squared Difference between adjacent RR intervals (RMSSD), Standard Deviation of normal-to-normal interval (SDNN), Low-frequency component (LF), High-frequency component (HF) and LF/HF ratio were assessed. The psychological conditions, namely rumination and perseverative thinking were assessed using the Rumination Response Scale (RRS) and Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ). Intervention: Participants in the yoga group engaged in twelve weeks of yoga practice. Waitlist control group members were instructed not to engage in any form of exercise such as running, jogging, swimming, or lifting weights during the study period. The waitlist control group received yoga practice for four weeks upon completion of the trial. RESULTS Following a 12-week intervention, the yoga group showed improved performance in working memory [accuracy ( geometric mean difference of 3.15%, 95% CI [ 2.33,3.96], p = 0.001) and xi reaction time (mean difference of -100.8 milliseconds,95% CI [ -166.6, -35.1], p=0.002] in the high task load (2-back) associated with higher oxygenation in dorsolateral PFC (β coefficient mean difference of 95.6, 95% CI [0.23,191], p=0.049) and ventrolateral PFC (β coefficient mean difference of 53.4, 95% CI [7.8,98.9], p=0.018) regions. Higher oxygenation in dorsolateral PFC during the 2-back task was positively correlated with accuracy (r(23)= 0.65, p<0.001) and negatively correlated with reaction time ( r(23)= -0.47,p=0.017). The yoga group showed improved autonomic functions with a decreased mean HR, decreased LF component and increased HF component values. Decreased mean HR at post-intervention compared to pre- and mid-intervention with a mean difference of -7.0, 95% CI [-9.5, -4.4], p < 0.001 and -6.1, 95% CI [-10.1, -2.2], p = 0.002 respectively. Decreased LF value at post-intervention compared to pre- and mid-intervention with a mean difference of -10.7, 95% CI [-21.0, -0.3], p = 0.041 and -10.6, 95% CI [-20.5, -0.6], p = 0.034 respectively. Increased HF value at post intervention compared to pre- and mid-intervention with a mean difference of 10.7, 95% CI [0.23, 21.1], p = 0.043 and 11.3, 95% CI [1.1, 21.5], p = 0.03 respectively. The yoga group showed reduced rumination following the yoga intervention with a decrease in RRS score at post-intervention compared to pre-intervention, with a mean difference of -4.72, 95% CI [-8.5, -1.0], p = 0.011. The decrease in rumination scores (at post-intervention) was positively correlated with the improvement in reaction time (at post-intervention) compared to pre-intervention, r (25) = 0.65, p < 0.001. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that yoga practice may improve working memory performance associated with higher PFC oxygenation in patients with T2DM. Also, yoga may prevent the onset of a depressive condition by reducing rumination symptoms and influence positively on cognitive functions. Yoga practice may be an effective adjunct approach for enhancing cognitive functions in clinical populations.Item Evaluation of therapeutic efficacy and mechanistic basis of yoga in the management of adverse respiratory health and neuropsychological deficits in pesticide exposed Indian farmers(SVYASA, 2023-01-07) Vipin Dhansoia; Vijaya Majumdar; Deepeshwar SinghBACKGROUND The respiratory function and neuropsychological deficits remain major health concerns in chronically pesticide-exposed farmers across the globe. However, there is a scarcity of studies that address the clinical management of these adverse health outcomes of occupational pesticide exposure to farming populations by administering a Yoga-based intervention, which has the potential to improve thoracic compliance and lung function. AIM AND OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate whether Yoga-based intervention could mitigate the effects of chronic exposure to pesticides on respiratory and cognitive functions. Secondarily we also aimed to test if oxidative stress reduction could underlie the intervention's impact on the health outcomes, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and oxidative stress markers in farmers chronically exposed to pesticides. METHODS In the present study, we report the findings of parallel two-armed randomized clinical, blinded outcome assessors that tested the efficacy of a yoga-based intervention on pulmonary and cognitive functions in pesticide exposed male farmers. Farmers were screened on their self reported history of at least six months of spraying operations in the field. Of 634 farmers screened across five villages, 140 male farmers (mean [SD] age, 38.75 [7.50] years) with mean pesticide exposure of 5.71 years (SD 3.04) were included and randomized to yoga (n = 70), or waitlist control arm (n = 70). Yoga intervention was delivered in 60-minute groups for 12 weeks. vi A total of 123 participants completed the post-intervention assessment. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. The intervention was unblinded, but the outcome assessment blinded the treatment assignment. The primary outcome was a change in pulmonary function parameters (percent predicted value of FVC, FEV1, %FEV1/FVC, PEFR, and FEF 25–75%) after 24 weeks of intervention. Secondary variables were assessed using neuropsychological assessment TMT (Trail making test), DSST (Digit symbol substitution test), WHO Quality of life-BREF, and Perceived stress scale. We present an application of the causal inference approach to mediation analysis. Linear regression was used to analyze study outcomes as adjusted mean differences (AMDs), additionally adjusted for their comparable value at baseline. Mediation analysis was also done considering oxidative stress markers as potential mediators. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number CTRI/2019/11/021989. RESULTS At the end of 6 months of intervention, the overall follow-up in the participants was 87.85% (n=123); 90% (n=63) in the control group, and 85.71% in the yoga group (n=60). The mean age of the study cohort (n=140) was 38.75 (SD =7.50) years. Compared with the control group, at 24 weeks post-intervention, the breathing focused Yoga group had significantly improved the markers of airway obstruction, after adjusting for confounders, FEV1, FVC, FEF25-75 [z score adjusted mean differences (95% CI); 1.66 (1.10-2.21), respectively. A fraction of FEF25- 75 change (mediation percentage 23.95%) was explained by glutathione augmentation. There were also significant improvements in cognitive scores of DSST, TMT-A and TMT-B, and WHOQOL-Bref. vii CONCLUSION In this 24-weeks randomized controlled trial on chronically pesticide exposed farmers, breathing focused yoga intervention was significantly more effective than the wait-list control group in the alleviation of spirometry-based indices of airflow limitation and cognitive decline. A significant mediating effect of glutathione augmentation was also observed concerning the effect of the intervention on FEF25-75%. These findings provide an important piece of beneficial evidence of the breathing-based yoga intervention that needs validation across different farming ethnicities. Trial Registration Clinical Trial Registration Number: CTRI/2019/11/021989 Keywords: Farmers, Pesticide exposure, Breathing-focussed Yoga Intervention, Respiratory Decline, Cognitive DeclineItem Efficacy of canons of expression and yoga on the emotion regulation among the caregivers of children with neurodevelopment disorders A randomized study(SVYASA, 2021-01) Jayashree Ravi Hegde; M. K. Sridhar; T. M. Srinivasan; Karuna Vijayendra; Deepeshwar SinghBACKGROUND: Emotion dysregulation is associated with the subjective burden of caregivers (CGs) of children with neurodevelopment disorders (NDDs) that lead the caregivers to high subjective burden, stress, depression, anxiety, and reduced caregivers’ appraisal, and quality of life. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the efficacy of holistic approach of canons of expression (CE) embedded in Indian aesthetic dance (IAD) and yoga on the psychological outcomes and electrophonic imaging among CGs of children with NDDs compared to control group. METHODS: Participants: A total of 101 CGs of children with NDDs (males= 2; and female= 99) were recruited from three Centers, age ranging from 21-65 were randomly allocated to three groups, i.e., (i) IAD group (n=33, mean age 41.71 ± 9.11 years) (ii) yoga group (n=34, mean age 41.03 ± 9.09 years), and (iii) control group (n=34, mean age 41.56 ± 9.09 years). Design: Three groups (CE, yoga and control) ; pre-mid-post assessment with randomized control trial. Assessments: The outcome assessments consisted of primary outcomes: (i) Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI), (ii) Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), and Secondary outcome measure (i) Revised Caregivers Appraisal Scale (RCAS), (ii) World Health Organization’s Quality of Life (WHOQOL BREF) scale were measured at baseline, 4th week and 8th week and (iii) Bio-Energy components through Electro photonic image (EPI) technique were measured for immediate effect at pre- and post sessions. Intervention: One experimental group received the intervention of canons of expression, and another group with yoga intervention scheduled for 75-min/day (3-days/week) spread across two months. In contrast, the control group was engaged in regular activities. Results: The IAD and yoga groups showed a significant reduction in scores of ZBS (P<0.001), DASS 21 (P<0.001), and improvement in the RCAS (P<0.001) and WHOQOL (BREF) (P<0.001). Even the EPI parameters showed a significant improvement concerning immediate effect (P<0.001) in intervention groups compared to control group and pre assessment. Conclusion: Two months of comprehensive IAD and yoga program is more effective than non-intervention on the psychological outcome and electrophonic imaging among the CGs of children with NDDs