Dementia and Yoga
For nearly 15 years, our family noticed our mother’s logic and behaviours seemed “off.” We wondered why she’d drive the longest possible route to get from A to B. She had problems sleeping. Sometimes, her hand trembled as she held a fork over her plate. Her words were skewed, asking if we couldn’t use a “tunnel” to fill the jug. It was frustrating for her and also for us. It took another five years of pushing before we were able to get a diagnosis of mild dementia.
Like the folds and coils that compose the brain, there are as many theories and conjectures about the workings of the brain. Western research has most recently focused on the organic diseases of the brain, collectively known as dementia. The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada warned in their 2008 report, Rising Tide: the Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society, that aging baby boomers would cause a huge shift for every aspect of society. In 2011, the Alzheimer’s Society reported 747,00, or almost 15-per cent of Canadians over the age of 65, are affected by dementia. Without dramatic interventions, by 2031, the numbers of patients would increase to 1.4-million.
What we’re seeing now, are cases of early onset dementia in midlife people. The lifestyle we lead, full of mental stress, poor quality nutrition and low fitness, has increased vascular dementia where blood circulation is restricted to the brain. In retirement and nursing homes, workers estimate between 65-75 per cent of residents have dementia, of which many cases are mixed dementia - more than one type.
Initially, I became a yoga teacher for a dislocated spinal condition, but realized the great potential for other therapies, including helping mild dementia. It began as an experiment with my own family, but expanded to the residences for older adults. Some of my teachers called my intention, “courageous” and “the most difficult way to start.” It’s probably a good thing I didn’t know any better!
Having worked on a textbook with one of Canada’s gerontology pioneers, I gained knowledge on the physiology of aging and had the opportunity to interview experts in the field of mental health, including dementia. The scant knowledge available in Western medicine was concerning, although I was able to integrate it with yoga’s body of knowledge. After all, yoga is humanity’s oldest, long-term study of the human mind.
For all the chair yoga classes, the first main benefit I noted was from pranayama, mainly, simple diaphragmatic breathing. Immediately, I saw many people yawn, shoulders relaxed downwards, as people quickly gained increased oxygen to the brain. The ability to follow the guided breath also boosted confidence for some people who haven’t moved their bodies for years. Breathing was something I encouraged them all to do, every day, after class. Mostly, this was what they mainly remembered.
Less functional people reported greater clarity of their minds, a sense of openness and peacefulness. The confidence in their ability to recover something lost was a revelation. Years of stagnant, negative thoughts can be released by asking them to breathe out sadness, breathe out anger, fear, anxiety, guilt. The teacher who gives permission to this older cohort, can do wonders. The teacher or authority figure, is a powerful force to their own healing.
Sadly, many of them have been told their declining abilities are “hopeless.” Buying into that negativity, decreases their own control of their minds. This attitude may also increase depression, which is also linked with dementia. Some dementia-like symptoms are caused by urinary tract infections (UTI) and once treated, the person recovers. Mainly, the problem exists in the healthcare community where dementia is not well understood, and not many are trained to deal with it. They may themselves, become part of the collective consciousness of negativity.
Health providers know that when a dementia patient is under mental stress, the dementia increases significantly. Change of location, caregivers or settings is disruptive and increases the output of stress hormones, namely cortisol. Cortisol, produced in the adrenal glands and the adrenal cortex in the brain, has been implicated as being highly corrosive in the body when produced constantly. This continual drip of cortisol is what contributes to many conditions for all ages. Our over-stimulated, hyperactive, time-pressed society is expert at creating this reaction in our bodies.
The peacefulness of yoga has the positive effect of reducing the stress response. Helping individuals to look within for their true selves is instrumental to their support. Without doubt, this allows the dementia patient to return to a state of balance, even if it’s temporary. The positivity of the teacher as a guide can create a nurturing environment, especially in early stage of dementia, when the person is cognizant of diminished abilities.
In one retirement home, the care workers brought a woman in a wheelchair into class. They told me she had suddenly lost her husband. It appeared she was in some state of post-traumatic shock or depression and unresponsive. As class began, we started with breathing. She didn’t appear to move or notice what was going on around her. The soothing strains of yoga themed music played in the background as we moved into upper body asanas, stretching shoulders and arms. Suddenly... she lifted her arm. She began to follow, still without expression. The class flowed on and finally into savasana. Here, it seemed she found some peace.
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After falling one night, our mother shattered the top of her femur, thighbone. “Hip pinning” as it’s known has become commonplace. Such a trauma to the body, we were warned, would cause increased dementia. Every week, I travelled to her city to practice chair yoga with her, gently increasing her range of motion and encouraging her.
After a few months in a drab century-old rehab hospital, where she received daily physiotherapy, she moved to long-term care. The bright, modern and well-maintained home set-out a wide range of activities. To our amazement, her cognitive abilities grew sharper. It was almost like having her back. Through the increased movement, improved circulation and oxygen to the brain, plus a better mindset, I’m encouraged that the principles of yoga should become integrated as a source of well-being for all ages.
Diane Lu-Hovasse
Diane Lu-Hovasse