Development of a Mindfulness Yoga Program and Effects on Cognitive Functions for the Community Dwelling Elderly - Abstract
Since dementia relates to an elders’ quality of life, it is important for people to keep cognitive functions healthy. This study aims to develop a mindfulness yoga program and investigate its effects on cognitive functions for elders measured via the Stroop test. The participants were community dwelling elders. They received a mindfulness yoga program approximately once a week, for a total of three months. They performed the Stroop test, in which there were four tasks on Stroop interference and reverse-Stroop interference used to measure cognitive functions pre and post program, and gave comments for the program. The correct response number and interference ratio were measured. The correct response number was significantly increased in each task between pre and post program: Task 1 (p<0.001), Task 2 (p<0.001), Task 3(p<0.01), and Task 4 (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between pre and post program in the interference ratio; this might be caused by visual impairment due to aging. The comments of participants were mostly positive and they showed intent to continue. These results suggest that this mindfulness yoga for elders improved cognitive functions, and that the mindfulness yoga program for elders may be useful.