We hypothesize that yoga practice may alter cerebral hemodynamics in middle cerebral artery (MCA) and improve cognition in type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Additionally, we explored the relationship between changes in cerebral hemodynamics and cognition in our cohort.

In this randomized control trial, participants, not practicing any yoga, were recruited from various health centres in Bengaluru, India. Using random number generation, participants were assigned to Yoga intervention or best medical therapy (control). In Yoga group, participants underwent 3-months of T2DM-specific yoga intervention, in addition to their conventional treatment. Longitudinal cerebral hemodynamic changes in MCAs were evaluated using transcranial doppler (TCD) after 3-months. Corsi block tapping test was used to assess the visuo-spatial working memory.

Seventy-five participants with mean (SD)age 51.5± 9.8 years of which 63 (84%) were men were recruited. There were 38 subjects in the yoga intervention group while 37 subjects formed the control group. There were significant changes in CBFV (F(2.146)=18.03, p<0.001), CVR (F(1,73)=5.31, p=0.02) and cognition (F(1.48,108.66)=12.783, p<0.001). There was no between-group effect. However, there was no correlation between CBFV and cognition.

The 3-month yoga intervention was associated with significant improvement in cerebral hemodynamics and visuo-spatial working memory among patients with T2DM.