Impact of Yoga on Cognitive Function

April 1, 2026 updated by: Chin-Yen Lin, Auburn University

A Pilot and Feasibility Study of a Yoga Intervention in Heart Failure Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mild cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in patients with heart failure and results in poor well-being and quality of life. While yoga has proven effective in promoting cognitive health in older adults through its gentle movements, controlled breathing, and meditation, its effects on patients with heart failure remain unknown. Therefore, this feasibility and pilot study plans to deliver a 12-week yoga intervention and test its effects on cognitive function in patients with heart failure and mild cognitive impairment.

Study Overview

Status

Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

A prospective, 2-arm comparative feasibility design will be used. The investigators will enroll 24 patients with a confirmed heart failure diagnosis with mild cognitive impairment. Patients will be randomized equally into yoga intervention or control group. Patients in the yoga intervention group will receive a 60-minute yoga session twice per week for 12-week. Survey, cognitive function data, MRI scans, and blood samples will be collected at baseline and at 3 months (after completion of yoga intervention).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

24

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Alabama
      • Auburn, Alabama, United States, 36849
        • Auburn University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 55 years and older
  • Confirmed heart failure diagnosis with mild cognitive impairment
  • New York Heart Association functional class II-IV

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Co-existing neurological disorders, traumatic brain injury, psychiatric disorders, or terminal illnesses
  • Have implanted defibrillator, left ventricular assist device placement or cardiac transplant
  • Have any other implanted metals that interfere with the MRI magnetic field for patient safety
  • Substance abuse
  • Pregnant
  • Unable to perform yoga due to physical limitations or severity of illness

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Control condition
Behavioral: Control condition
Patients in the control group will receive care-as-usual from their healthcare providers and will be asked to avoid engaging in yoga during their 3 months in the study.
Experimental: Yoga intervention
Behavioral: Yoga intervention
Patients in the yoga group will receive a 60-minute session, twice per week over 12 weeks for a total of 24 sessions. Each yoga session consists of a warm-up, yoga postures standing or seated depending on the capability of the patient, and relaxation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Brain structure
Time Frame: Change from 0-12 weeks, from baseline pre-intervention to 12 weeks post-intervention
Using structural magnetic resonance imaging to examine brain structure between intervention and control groups. Less brain alteration is optimal.
Change from 0-12 weeks, from baseline pre-intervention to 12 weeks post-intervention
Brain functional connectivity
Time Frame: Change from 0-12 weeks, from baseline pre-intervention to 12 weeks post-intervention
Functional magnetic resonance imaging is used to examine functional connectivity between intervention and control groups. A balance of activity across different brain regions is optimal.
Change from 0-12 weeks, from baseline pre-intervention to 12 weeks post-intervention
Cognitive function
Time Frame: Change from 0-12 weeks, from baseline pre-intervention to 12 weeks post-intervention
Using cognitive tests to examine cognitive function and performance between intervention and control groups. A higher score on cognitive tests indicates better cognitive function.
Change from 0-12 weeks, from baseline pre-intervention to 12 weeks post-intervention
Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor
Time Frame: Change from 0-12 weeks, from baseline pre-intervention to 12 weeks post-intervention
A blood sample will be obtained using phlebotomy to measure the levels of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and reported in pg/mL. Higher concentrations are optimal.
Change from 0-12 weeks, from baseline pre-intervention to 12 weeks post-intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Auburn University

Collaborators

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Auburn campus

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

July 16, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 21, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 23, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

May 30, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 1, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • AU-24-001

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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