According to recent studies, it seems that there are potential effects of meditation on cognitive decline.
Meditation has been practiced for centuries in the East. Its benefits made it popular all over the world. The number of people who practice it is on the rise. Since it helps to reduce stress and improve the quality of sleep, it is beneficial for both seniors and caregivers. Meditation gives you the energy you need, and you can have better focus on the tasks you need to accomplish.
The best thing about meditation is you can do it at home, and it’s free of charge. And it is quite simple, as you can see in the video.
Besides these benefits, some studies suggest meditation can delay age-related memory problems.
Cognitive decline is common in the elderly. The ability to focus and the speed of processing slow down. With meditation, these effects can be postponed. However, the long-term benefits of meditating haven’t been precisely determined.
The Shamatha Project
The Shamatha Project tried to give an answer to the question of whether meditation slows down cognitive decline. The scientists followed a group of 60 people who were attending mediation retreats at the Shambhala Mountain Center in Colorado. They were meditating twice a day on the retreats and continued with the meditation on the other days of the year.
The study was conducted over the period of seven years. At the end of the study, 20 people had given up, but the others continued to meditate every day.
Findings of the group which regularly meditated were compared to the control group. The results proved that continuous meditation slows down cognitive decline. This was the first study which determined the long-term effects of meditation.
What Are the Other Benefits of Meditating for Seniors?
Meditation not only reduces memory loss, but it also improves your attention span. If your mind tends to wander off easily, you should try to meditate once a day for a couple of weeks. Some studies claim that you may notice changes after several days.
Usually, the first benefit of meditation that is noticed is a reduction of stress. Stress triggers numerous diseases and conditions and has a negative impact on our cognitive health. It causes sleeping issues, depression, and reduced attention. With meditation, you can reverse these negative effects of stress and help your mind to worry less about everyday problems.
Meditation can contribute to lowering your blood pressure, too. It won’t solve all your cardiovascular problems, but it is good in combination with other treatments.
Conclusion
Meditation has various benefits for people of all ages, but especially for the elderly. It helps you to improve your sleeping habits, reduce blood pressure, and prevent other cardiovascular diseases. Most importantly, it has a positive impact on your cognitive health.
As we age, our memory declines and many seniors are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia. Fighting cognitive decline can be difficult, since scientists still haven’t found a cure. However, meditation can help.
Memory loss can be prevented (or at least delayed) with a long-term meditation practice. Once a day, find time to relax and perform meditation exercises. Your body and mind will be grateful to you. You will have more energy for everyday tasks, and your brain won’t wander off so often. Practice it regularly for a longer period, and you will notice all the benefits that meditation brings.
For more about meditation myths, read here.
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