Cerebro-Haemodynamic Changes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Following Yoga Intervention: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Cerebral haemodynamics is highly compromised in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). T2DM reduces cerebral blood flow and increases vascular resistance as the duration of the disease increases. Yoga, a holistic method of healing is known to influence cerebral haemodynamics.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an integrated approach of yoga therapy on cerebral haemodynamics in T2DM patients.

Study Method: Participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into yoga and control groups. The yoga group underwent 14 days of intensive diabetes-specific yoga intervention along with their standard medications, whereas the control group continued with their standard medications alone. A Transcranial Doppler instrument was used to assess the Peak systolic velocity, mean blood flow velocity, end diastolic velocity, pulsatility index, and resistance index of the middle cerebral artery on days 1 and 14.

Results: 20 participants (15 male and 5 female) completed the study among which 10 participants were in the yoga group (mean age: 51.0 ± 5.6 years) and the other 10 participants in the control group (mean age: 50.6 ± 4.0 years). With 14 days of yoga intervention in T2DM, both within- and between-subjects effects on cerebral haemodynamic parameters were non-significant. However, an increasing trend in the mean blood flow velocity (P = .07) and a reduction in the resistance index (P = .89) of the middle cerebral artery in the yoga group were noted.

Conclusion: This study suggests that yoga intervention may help improve cerebral haemodynamics in people, although the change was non-significant. This may encourage medical professionals to explore the therapeutic benefits of yoga on vascular and metabolic disorders with a larger sample size and longer duration of intervention.