New Research Reveals Benefits of KK

Posted February 27, 2020

Emotional and Cognitive Improvement with Kirtan Kriya Meditation: A Pilot Study for Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients in a Catalan community.

AUTHORS

Toni Cañete
Gloria Borras
Silvia Ramos
Dharma Singh Khalsa

Objective: To study the effects of Kirtan Kriya Meditation (KKM) and 8-week yoga program on emotional and cognitive status, in MCI patients from our population, while undergoing cognitive training program (CTP).

Design: We recruited 21 MCI adults GDS 3, for an open label non-randomized controlled study, but only 15 followed up. None had previous experience of meditation or yoga. Evaluation before and after the 8-week program was done by validated standard MCI tests. Seven patients practiced KKM for 12 minutes every day, weekly yoga session, and the standard cognitive training program while 8 patients only followed the cognitive training program (CTP).

Results: The baseline negative mood and cognitive parameters became normal after the 8-week intervention program for the KKM group, decreasing tension, hostility, confusion and total PEA mood values (p<0.05). Depression and anxiety levels were also reduced to normal Goldberg score values. Similarly, the FCRST memory test showed higher memory scores for total free recall memory and TMT Trail-A test, moving to a normal range.

Conclusions: The KKM group improved their psycho-emotional and cognitive health compared to CTP group. The yoga class elevated the perception of wellbeing. Further randomized studies are needed with a larger sample of MCI-diagnosed adults.

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Chelsea Pyne