Aging Mindfully to Minimize Cognitive Decline

Abstract

Aging is known to be associated with a decline in cognitive performance and ability. However, it has been shown that programs geared towards training cognitive processes can amend or even reverse age-related cognitive decline, at least partly. Engaging the brain in intense mental processes, such as those occurring during meditation, might constitute a form of cognitive training. Thus, if practiced regularly, with a certain level of intensity, and over longer periods of time, meditation may be a means to counteract the normal effects of aging on cognition. Although systematic research is still sparse, existing studies seem to provide initial data suggesting that meditation improves cognition overall (independent of aging) and, perhaps even more importantly, reduces age-related cognitive decline. This review integrates the existing literature on cognitive changes due to aging as well as induced (or enhanced) by meditation, while identifying critical links still missing to unambiguously ascertain whether meditation can significantly contribute to optimizing and delaying brain aging. Show more