Mindfulness and brain aging. Can mindfulness meditation provide some protection from aging-related declines in brain functioning? The answer may be yes, at least according to a new study. Today, we look at some fascinating research from the University of California, Los Angeles (USA) and the Centre for Research and Ageing in Australia.
Mindfulness is “a mental mode characterized by attention to present-moment experience without judgment, elaboration, or emotional reactivity.”
Unfortunately, our brain matter decreases in volume as we age. While overall life expectancy has generally been increasing, our brains begin to degrade in volume and weight after the first two decades of life. The brain deterioration continues with increasing age. This shrinkage occurs in areas that regulate muscle control and sensory perception.
That’s the bad news. The good? A systematic review suggests that mindfulness may help fight against cognitive decline, perhaps given its effects on attention, executive functioning, memory, and processing. The study authors conclude that meditation interventions for older adults are feasible, and preliminary evidence suggests that meditation can offset the age-related cognitive decline.
The scientists looked at brain function in healthy, older adults. Participants spent eight weeks practicing either focused breathing meditation or control activity. The researchers then administered the Stroop test — a neuropsychological evaluation looking at attention and emotional control.
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