I was asked an interesting question during my last workshop. To paraphrase, “I go to my doctor and complain of anxiety, depression, memory …. Often, he or she gives me a prescription and reassures me that I will do better. What if I don’t want to take a medication? Is that my only choice?” Fortunately the answer is no.

We live in a reductionist world. Biological interventions such as medications are helpful for many problems. Drugs change physiological systems. But behavioral and psychological interventions also change physiological systems. When I learn something new, I alter my brain. When I exercise, I alter my biology. We often lose sight of the fact that biology changes behavior and behavior changes biology. The best interventions focus on both sides of this equation.

For example, there are medications that help manage changes in motor function (e.g., reduced length of stride and postural stability which increases falls) in Parkinson’s disease. A new study (New England Journal of Medicine, February 9, 2012) confirms the growing evidence that training in Tai Chi improves balance and reduces falls in patients with Parkinson’s disease – think of what it might do to help the rest of us as we age and become more at risk of falling. The program only required 2 times a week for 24 weeks to show the improvement. Changes in behavior changed biology.

As another example, consider yoga training (thanks to Jane Brody’s article in the New York Times, February 21, 2012 in response to reading The Science of Yoga by William J. Broad). She reports that well designed studies have shown that the regular practice of yoga can improve cardiovascular variables (effects the heart and brain) such as blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and improve blood levels of antioxidants. Yoga also improves balance and may reduce the risk of falls (maybe Tai chi does more than just improve balance). Changes in behavior changed biology.

Finally, as you have read or heard me say often, you can improve your memory by changing your behaviors. The One Minute Rule – anything given less than one minute of thought will fade from your memory – involves changes in behavior that change physiology such as building the habit (a type of long-term memory that involves neuroplasticity) like training yourself to have a “take away spot” for your wallet, keys, and grocery list. The one minute rule allows biological processes of memory formation to have more time to work their magic.

In short, medications are not the only approach to change biology. Behaviors such as exercise, eating habits, memory habits, cognitive stimulation, and being social also change biology. Medications are not the only or always the best ways to improve the quality of our life.