! "#$#% &’(# )*+", -.) &-) / 01,"&1 &,, 02 2,& &* 3)*-&- 3& *)) 3&*.+ -1&.+&) &). &,& 4 &* 3& *&*& ac Lab for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics, Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India. b Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India &0-&"- 5 $# 6% # ( 7#6# 4#!#%! %% ( !!’! !8! 6 9: %#’$ #6 $ 9( 7;# $8 # 3** 9( <#% 7# 4 !6<! 8# 231 = # #’ ’% ($< *- = ’ #< #’#7 9 (% $# 8< /6<68 $ 8% $<(< * %# 9( 3** 9 #7!< % # 8 ( 231 # *- 7< #’#7 9 7 9( ( 7 #6 ( <7 4#7: #6 4#!#%! %% ( !!’! !8! #< #’#7 9 7 9( 0: *$# 8#< 0* ! -( 9 %6 7$#87 ( 9: !8! #6 <7 4#7: #6 4#!#%! %% ( !!’! !8! 231 %#’$ #7$ # *- %#’$ > 8 #?<% $ ., ##! 1 #! #? $< !#7 8< 4 8 ’##$( 6# ’ @ !! A .#98 # 66!!< 7$#8 !#7 !%( = -( 6% 9 $!!! 9( %6 ’# 0* # A 7# BC 231 %#’$ C *- %#’$ =3** $ 9( 231 (#9 %6!< !#9 #6 4#!#%! %% ( !!’! !8! $!!! ’ $# 8< #7$# # (# 9( *- 9: $#8# $# -( ’ ( #6 #7$!? !6<! ( #(# #6 $ 9(( ! (7 -( ’! #6 ( ’< ’%% ( ’% ( #6 4#!#%! %% 4< 231 $#8 !#% 7 7# 4#( (!($ !6$ 3** D)25* Major Depressive Disorder, Biological Aging, Lifestyle, Biomarker, Yoga, Meditation, Telomeres Yoga and meditation are mind*body interventions (MBIs) that have been used successfully for treating major depressive disorder (MDD) (Streeter, Gerbarg, Whitfield et al., 2017). They can be used as a lifestyle intervention since regular practitioners show higher resilience to adversities of modern lifestyle, which significantly contribute to pathogenesis of MDD, accelerated biological aging, and increased risk for other chronic non* communicable diseases (NCDs). Current first*line drug treatment for MDD that is based on monoamine hypothesis, is suboptimal and associated with complications (Forte, Baldessarini, Tondo et al., 2015). Recent imaging studies have reported that yoga decreases age associated decline in gray matter. More recent genetic studies (Buric, Farias, Jong et al., 2017; Tolahunase, Sagar, Khan et al., 2016) have suggested that MBIs modify expression of genes associated with cellular pathways of aging. On the other hand,drug treatments have ~40% failure rate, numerous side effects, and relapses. An et al., (An, Wang, Li et al., 2017) have reported that drug treatment in MDD adversely affect nervous system. MDD is a recurring illness, and not only residual symptoms remain after the acute episode but also adverse effects are seen after drug therapy (Sakurai, Suzuki, Yoshimura et al., 2017; Saragoussi, Touya, Haro et al., 2017). Recently published studies (López*Otín, Blasco, Partridge et al., 2013) have reported that hallmarks of aging are mainly associated with cellular function and include: oxidative stress [reactive oxygen species (ROS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)]; telomere metabolism [telomerase activity and telomere length]; DNA damage [8*hydroxy 2'*deoxy guanosine (8OH2dG)], nutrition sensing [sirtuin 1], and intercellular communication [cortisol, Il*6, and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)]. As MDD is associated with accelerated aging and earlier onset of complex lifestyle diseases, it is important to analyze the impact of YMLI on the rate of biological aging and the severity of disease in MDD. Objective of this trial was to compare the systemic markers of biological aging at the cellular level and parallel changes in depression severity in MDD patients treated with either YMLI or routine drug therapy (RDT) for 12 weeks. The findings of this assessment are reported in this article. 3)-.* &* 3&-)&1 Fifty*five patients who were diagnosed as MDD at psychiatry outpatient unit were selected for the study