Efficacy of yoga for caregivers of persons with dementia: An integrative review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to synthesize empirical research on the role of yoga (a mindfulness-based intervention) in improving biopsychosocial health outcomes for caregivers of persons with dementia.
Results Summary
Yoga was found to reduce stress, depression, and anxiety while improving quality of life, vitality, self-compassion, mindfulness attention, sleep quality, and diastolic blood pressure. However, caregiver burden, systolic blood pressure, and heart rate did not show significant changes.
Population
Caregivers of persons with dementia (both informal and professional caregivers).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
yoga | decrease | stress | caregivers of persons with dementia | - | may be useful in reducing | #1 |
yoga | decrease | depression | caregivers of persons with dementia | - | may be useful in reducing | #2 |
yoga | decrease | anxiety | caregivers of persons with dementia | - | may be useful in reducing | #3 |
yoga | increase | quality of life indicators | caregivers of persons with dementia | - | increasing | #4 |
yoga | increase | vitality indicators | caregivers of persons with dementia | - | increasing | #5 |
yoga | increase | self-compassion scores | caregivers of persons with dementia | - | increasing | #6 |
yoga | increase | mindfulness attention | caregivers of persons with dementia | - | increasing | #7 |
yoga | increase | sleep quality | caregivers of persons with dementia | - | increasing | #8 |
yoga | increase | diastolic blood pressure | caregivers of persons with dementia | - | increasing | #9 |
yoga | no change | caregiver burden | caregivers of persons with dementia | - | were not significantly changed | #10 |
yoga | no change | systolic blood pressure | caregivers of persons with dementia | - | were not significantly changed | #11 |
yoga | no change | heart rate | caregivers of persons with dementia | - | were not significantly changed | #12 |
BACKGROUND: The progressive nature of dementia leaves the person vulnerable and dependent on others for care. While persons with dementia often have better outcomes when cared for at home, it can lead to personal challenges and self-neglect of the caregiver. Mindfulness-based interventions such as yoga can lessen the potential negative effects encountered by caregivers of persons with dementia. AIM: The aim of this review was to synthesise available empirical research related to the role of yoga on the biopsychosocial health outcomes for caregivers of persons with dementia population. METHOD: A systematic search of the databases Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Plus, Medline and PsychINFO was done using the terms "yoga" AND "caregivers or family members or informal caregivers" AND "dementia or Alzheimer's." Using the selection process outlined by the PRISMA framework, thirty-six studies met the initial criteria and were potentially relevant to the topic. A methodological check was performed using the critical appraisal tool of Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt and the GRADE system of recommendation. This process led to the inclusion of four articles. FINDINGS: Four studies were included for this review: two randomised controlled trials, a non-randomised intervention study with a waitlist and a pilot cohort study. Three studies focused on informal caregivers and one study involved professional caregivers. In all studies, yoga practices included asanas, pranayama, relaxation and meditation. This integrative review recommended that yoga may be useful in reducing stress, depression and anxiety while increasing quality of life indicators, vitality indicators, self-compassion scores, mindfulness attention, sleep quality and diastolic blood pressure. Outcomes that were not significantly changed were caregiver burden, systolic blood pressure and heart rate. However, the level of evidence was moderate with small sample sizes suggesting additional research is needed to include well-designed randomised controlled trials with larger sample sizes.