Meditation could help protect from dementia, study suggests

‘Mental training that targets stress and attention regulation has the potential to improve both cognitive and emotional aspects of ageing,’ researcher says

French research took place over 18 months (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Meditation could protect older people against dementia, according to new research.

The ancient relaxation technique boosts brainpower in over 65s, say scientists, specifically attention, awareness and emotional health.

The findings shed fresh light on how the disease works and open the door to better therapies. They add to evidence mindfulness reduces symptoms and even helps ward them off.

French participants assigned to an 18-month meditation course did better than those given English lessons instead to keep their brains busy.

Corresponding author Dr Gael Chetelat, of the University of Caen-Normandy, said: “Meditation was superior to non-native language training on changing a global composite score and two of its subscores reflecting attention regulation and socio-emotional capacities.

“The attention regulation subscore increased after meditation only.

“In the context of meditation practices, this capacity allows a heightened awareness and monitoring of the contents of experience without becoming absorbed by them.

“Socio-emotional capacities decreased substantially after non-native language training, suggesting the difference observed may be due to maintenance of skills by meditation.”

The study included 137 men and women split into three groups. Meditation and English classes included two-hour weekly sessions.

Participants also did home practice of at least 20 minutes a day. A control set carried on living their lives as normal, with no intervention.

Dr Chetelat added: “Meditation was superior to non-native language training on 18-month changes in a global composite score capturing attention regulation, socio-emotional and self-knowledge capacities.

“The study findings confirm the feasibility of meditation and non-native language training in elderly individuals, with high adherence and very low attrition.”

Meditation has become increasingly popular over recent years. It has helped people quit smoking, cope with cancer and even prevent psoriasis, a skin condition.

Dr Chetelat said: “Could meditation, a mental training approach toward attention and emotion regulation, preserve brain structure and function in cognitively unimpaired older adults?

“Future analyses on secondary outcomes will determine the measures most sensitive to meditation training and the factors associated with responsiveness to the intervention.”

Previous research has suggested it slows onset by helping people to stay focused and boosting happiness.

Dr Chetelat said: “Strategies to prevent dementia are urgently needed. Mental training that targets stress and attention regulation has the potential to improve both cognitive and emotional aspects of ageing.

“Previous studies have shown mindfulness meditation improves cognition, specifically in older adults across multiple domains including attention, executive functions and self-awareness or meta-cognition.

“Mindfulness meditation can also reduce stress, anxiety and depression - including in older adults.”

The number of dementia cases worldwide will triple to more than 150 million by 2050. With no cure in sight there is an increasing focus on lifestyle factors that are protective.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), which combines meditation with orthodox “thought training”, is already recommended for depression in Britain and is available on the NHS.

Dr Chetelat said: “Meditation appears to be a promising approach to preserve brain structure and function as well as cognition and thus to reduce dementia risk by directly targeting psycho-affective factors.”

The study is in the journal JAMA Neurology.

SWNS