Yoga can treat neurological disorders such as depression

Scientists from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and McLean Hospital recently found that practicing yoga can increase levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. The findings were published in the May issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. This suggests that practicing yoga can treat neurological disorders such as depression or anxiety associated with low GABA concentrations.

The World Health Organization report shows that mental illness accounts for 15% of the world's total diseases. Among them, depression and anxiety disorders are both related to low GABA levels. Currently, these diseases can be effectively treated with drugs that increase GABA.

Using magnetic resonance imaging technology, scientists compared the changes in GABA content before and after practicing yoga, and also analyzed the situation of reading for an hour without practicing yoga. The results showed that GABA levels increased by 27% in the group that participated in yoga, but there was no change in the group that participated in reading.

According to the results of this study, yoga can reduce symptoms including depression, anxiety and epilepsy. "Our results clearly show that GABA levels in people's brains increase after practicing yoga," said lead author Chris Streeter, assistant professor of psychiatry and neurology at BUSM.

Another author, Domenic Ciraulo, professor and director of psychiatry at BUSM, said: "This study is very helpful in understanding how the GABA system is affected by drugs and behavioral interference, which could lead to new ways to treat low-GABA disorders."

Perry Renshaw, director of the Brain Imaging Center at Harvard McLean Hospital, said: "Creating low-cost, widely available intervention therapies-such as yoga-that do not cause side effects-is very important for reducing mental disorders associated with low GABA, which is good for public health." (Internship Editor: Wu Jinyu)