Yoga can significantly improve the health of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients, shows a new study from AIIMS, New Delhi.
RA is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints. It causes joint damage and pain and can affect other organ system as well like lung, heart and brain. Traditionally, yoga has been known for its physical and mental well-being benefits.
A collaborative study by Lab for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics,Anatomy Dept, and Dept of Rheumatology AIIMS, ND, supported by DST,explored the effects of yoga at a cellular and molecular level in RA patients and how yoga may benefit RA patients beyond just pain relief.
It has been discovered that yoga lowers inflammation by controlling cellular damage and oxidative stress (OS). It balances pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, raises endorphin levels, and reduces cortisol and CRP levels and maintains melatonin rhythms. This facilitates the disruption of the inflammatory and hyperactive immune system cycle.
At a molecular level, by boosting the activity of the telomerase enzyme and genes involved in DNA repair and cell cycle regulation, it slows down the aging process of cells. Additionally, yoga improves mitochondrial function, which guards against telomere attrition and DNA damage by enhancing energy metabolism and lowering oxidative stress.
