The DOI matches its Crossref record; 134 of the 134 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Yoga- and meditation-based lifestyle intervention increases neuroplasticity and reduces severity of major depressive disorder: A randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Background: Current interventions for major depressive disorder (MDD) are suboptimal, and only one third respond to them on initial treatment. Neuroplasticity theories are the basis for several emerging treatments. Evidence on the impact of yoga, a well-known mind-body intervention, on neuroplasticity in MDD is limited. Objectives: To determine the effects of 12-week yoga- and meditation-based lifestyle intervention (YMLI) on depression severity and systemic biomarkers of neuroplasticity in adult MDD patients on routine drug treatment. Methods: A total of 58 MDD patients were randomized into yoga or control group. The severity of depression was assessed with Beck Depression Inventory-II scale (BDI-II). Blood samples were collected before and after intervention for the measurement of the biomarkers that characterize neuroplasticity, including mind-body communicative and cellular health biomarkers. Results: There was a significant decrease [difference between means, (95% CI)] in BDI-II score [–5.83 (–7.27, –4.39), p < 0.001] and significant increase in BDNF (ng/ml) [5.48 (3.50, 7.46), p < 0.001] after YMLI compared to control group. YMLI significantly increased DHEAS, sirtuin 1, and telomerase activity levels, and decreased cortisol, and IL-6 levels, in addition to decreasing DNA damage and balancing oxidative stress. Multiple regression analyses were used to associate neuroplasticity biomarkers with depression severity. A ‘post-intervention change in BDNF’ x ‘group’ interaction indicated that yoga group had more BDNF in association with less BDI-II scores relative to controls. Increased sirtuin 1 and telomerase activity and decreased cortisol significantly predicted this association (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that decrease in depression severity after YMLI in MDD is associated with improved systemic biomarkers of neuroplasticity. Thus YMLI can be considered as a therapeutic intervention in MDD management.
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“For example, comparative studies between meditators and non-meditators have revealed differences in brain connectivity, activation patterns, and both gray and white matter density [74].”
From Mindfulness meditation and psychedelics: potential synergies and commonalities (2023) · cites this paper as [74]
In the citing paper
“The investigators also revealed that the neuroplasticity of biomarkers was associated with the degree of depression, and there was a significant increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) after mindfulness yoga intervention [31].”
From The effectiveness of mindfulness yoga on patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2023) · cites this paper as [31]
In the citing paper
“the other three from India [20, 31, 60]”
From The effectiveness of mindfulness yoga on patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2023) · cites this paper as [31]
In the citing paper
“The investigators also revealed that the neuroplasticity of biomarkers was associated with the degree of depression, and there was a significant increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) after mindfulness yoga intervention [31].”
From The effectiveness of mindfulness yoga on patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2023) · cites this paper as [31]
In the citing paper
“Incomplete outcome data were rated as uncertain in one study [31]”
From The effectiveness of mindfulness yoga on patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2023) · cites this paper as [31]
In the citing paper
“whereas in two trials this was deemed ambiguous [20, 31].”
From The effectiveness of mindfulness yoga on patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2023) · cites this paper as [31]
In the citing paper
“Most of the studies provided an explanation of why participants dropped out at different times [31, 54, 56–58].”
From The effectiveness of mindfulness yoga on patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2023) · cites this paper as [31]
In the citing paper
“the other [31] was not stated.”
From The effectiveness of mindfulness yoga on patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2023) · cites this paper as [31]
In the citing paper
“The intervention were primarily practiced in a supine posture, prone sitting position, and standing [31]”
From The effectiveness of mindfulness yoga on patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2023) · cites this paper as [31]
In the citing paper
“with selective reporting of depression noted in one study [31].”
From The effectiveness of mindfulness yoga on patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2023) · cites this paper as [31]
In the citing paper
“These anti-depressive and anxiolytic effects are thought to in turn be mediated by enhancements in decentring and cognitive flexibility, in the case of mindfulness intervention (16, 19), vs. mystical experiences and disrupted cortical connectivity in the case of psychedelic-assisted therapy (49, 50).”
From Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (2021) · cites this paper as [19]
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The sirtuin family in health and disease
Wu, Q., Zhang, T., Chen, H., Yu, X., Lv, J.-L., Liu, Y., Liu, Y., Zheng, G., Zhao, J.-Q., Wei, Y., et al. (2022) · Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy · doi:10.1038/s41392-022-01257-8 · Cited by 928
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Neurobiological Changes Induced by Mindfulness and Meditation: A Systematic Review
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Metadata
- Authors
- Tolahunase, M. R., Sagar, R., Faiq, M., & Dada, R.
- Affiliations
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (IN)
- Corresponding author
- Dada, Rima
- Venue
- Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2018-03-25
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 423-442
- ISSN
- 0922-6028 (ISSN-L)
- 1878-3627
- OpenAlex
- W2794914738
- Cited by
- 167
- References
- 134
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 5
- FWCI
- 16.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Treatment of Major Depression
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- major depressive disorder, yoga, meditation, lifestyle intervention, neuroplasticity, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, SIRT1, telomerase activity, cortisol, interleukin-6, oxidative stress, DNA damage, mind-body interventions, depression severity
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Depression, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Life Style, Male, Middle Aged, Neuronal Plasticity, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Yoga, Meditation, Young Adult
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