Mysore/Mysuru: The Healthy Longevity Global Competition, founded by the US National Academy of Medicine (NAM), aims to stimulate an entire field by not only rewarding innovative ideas but also sharing those ideas with the world. 

Public Health Research Institute India, Yadavagiri, Mysuru and Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, with the collaboration of University of Arizona, participated in Healthy Longevity Global Competition and won the Catalyst Award for the year 2020. This award was sponsored by National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health. 

Dr. Purnima Madhivanan from University of Arizona, Dr. Vijaya Srinivas of Public Health Research Institute of India; Dr. Hemanth Bhargav from National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences and Dr. Rahul Shidhaye from Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences are the Investigators for this study titled ‘Yoga for Healthy Aging (YHA) Study: A Mind-Body Intervention to Reduce Multimorbidity                            In the Elderly.’

This Award consists of a research protocol with two 2-year duration focusing on qualitative research with In-Depth Interviews (IDI) and Focal Group Discussions (FGDs) during the first year followed by Adaptation Intervention workshops and Theory of change workshops. 

Various levels of personnel including Primary Care Physicians, Geriatric Physicians, Health Care officials and Yoga Instructors will be involved in this protocol. The goal of this initiative is to adapt an evidence-based yoga lifestyle intervention for use in primary care settings to address the physical and mental needs of seniors aged 60-80 years living in urban  slums of Mysuru.