Yoga can boost mental health for people living with dementia, McGill study says

A new study from McGill University suggests people living with dementia can benefit from Yoga.

Findings indicate sessions that are adapted and in a social setting are good for mental wellness.

On Thursday, Annie de Grandmont led an adjusted yoga class in person and online at the Alzheimer’s Society of Montréal.

“With dementia you can have symptoms of depression and anxiety, and yoga really contributes to improving the mood and reducing stress. It calms the nervous system and any physical activity can be quite beneficial on top of social interaction that comes along with the class,” she said.

Isabel Sadowski, a PhD candidate in counselling psychology at McGill, is the lead author of the study. She says mindfulness exercises like yoga and Tai chi are good for the body and the brain.

“When we think about mild cognitive impairment, when we think about dementia, we often look at care that’s focusing on memory and ways to improve that aspect of cognitive impairment,” Sadowski explained.

The study indicates that classes that are shorter, supported by a coach and in a social setting are more helpful.

“Going to a class where there’s multiple people, you have a lot of engagement and interaction with others. It’s a very positive benefit for loneliness and mood,” Sadowski said.

De Grandmont added: “People come in, leave with a smile and they’re really happy to just be there, move at their own pace, focus on their breath on my body connection. And they know that the class is adapted to their physical capacities and needs.”

Sadowski says her study shows that movement, even in a chair, is good medicine on its own.

“There’s a lot of push toward research on pharmacological options, which is very important,” she said.

“But I think what this research is finding, too, is that there are other pathways that can be complementary to improving mental health, to finding ways to get people kind of connected with each other, to have some of this intergenerational support.”