Associations between cognitive function and vascular health in office-based sedentary workers: A six-month yoga intervention.

Abstract

Background: Sedentary office work poses risks to physical and cognitive health. This study investigated the effects of a 6-month yoga intervention on sedentary office workers' cognitive function and vascular parameters.

Materials and methods: Twenty-four office workers (mean age 26.5 ± 2.9 years) with low physical activity levels participated in a 6-month yoga intervention. Vascular function (carotid and superficial femoral artery) was evaluated by Doppler ultrasound at baseline (0 and 3 months) and postintervention (corresponding to the study's 6^th and 9^th month time points). Correlations between cognitive and vascular measures were analyzed.

Results: Significant associations between vascular functions and cognitive performance emerged during the yoga intervention period (3-9 months). Positive correlations were observed between carotid artery parameters and cognitive task performance in the third month after intervention (corresponding to the study's 6^th-month time points). Flanker task accuracy correlated with carotid artery diameter (rho = 0.454, P < 0.05), while N-Back test accuracy correlated with carotid artery velocity (rho = 0.420, P < 0.05). However, increased superficial femoral artery function was negatively associated with cognitive performance.

Conclusion: This study reveals a dynamic relationship between cognitive performance and arterial parameters during prolonged sitting, with yoga intervention potentially influencing both vascular and cognitive functions favorably. The findings suggest that yoga may effectively mitigate the negative impacts of sedentary behavior in office workers. However, further research is needed to understand the long-term effects and mechanisms involved fully.