Yoga helps reduce severity of depression, says AIIMS study

New Delhi: According to a recent study by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), yoga helps reduce the severity of depression by increasing levels of certain chemicals in the brain that maintain the sleep-wake cycle and regulate mood, appetite, and digestion.

The study found that introducing yoga in one’s lifestyle results in a decrease in cortisol — the main stress hormone. It reduces the levels of certain inflammatory molecules in the body as well as the brain, thereby reducing oxidative stress, said Rima Dada, the professor in-charge of the Laboratory of Molecular Reproduction and Genetics at the department of anatomy in AIIMS.

It also slows the pace of aging by reducing levels of oxidative and psychological stress and aids in maintaining the length of telomere. Telomeres are DNA sequences which lie at the ends of chromosomes and act as biological clocks.

“The study, which was published in the “Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience” journal in March, found that meditation and yoga could reduce the severity of depression and lead to improvement in systemic biomarkers of neuroplasticity,” Ms Dada said. The study was conducted by the Laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics in collaboration with the department of psychiatry. It studied the impact of yoga on depression after a 12-week yoga intervention on around 236 subjects.

Depression is a major health problem which significantly contributes to morbidity, disability, and early onset of aging and aging associated diseases. It disrupts the body’s protective regulatory mechanisms and damages the genetic make-up and cell functions. Most importantly, it disrupts the mechanisms that regulate the way a body responds to stress.

Moreover, the immune system becomes hyperactive and aggravates the damage to organ systems, including brain.  

“Treatment of depression by yoga enhances physical and mental well being,” she added.