VIDEO – A study, piloted in Normandy, aims to evaluate the protective effects of meditation on the brain of people over 65 years old.
Meditation or English? This is the choice you may have to make in your 60s to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The interest of this learning on aging well has been assessed by a European study, led by French researchers and has just started.
“I fully support this research project, Silver Health Study, which will allow us to better understand the behaviors, lifestyles and types of mental training and meditation that can allow us to have better mental health. as we get older “.
It is in these terms that Matthieu Ricard, the charismatic Buddhist monk, affirms his wish to be the ambassador of this scientific study. Nearly 130 people over 65 will be followed for 18 months. They are randomly divided into 3 groups: one will follow a daily meditation program, the other will learn English and the 3th Nothing at all. Biological and radiological examinations will make it possible to assess the effects on the brain of these 3 programs.
Changes in the structure of the brain
It is now evident that a whole host of factors can influence the onset of dementia. An association has been shown between anxiety, depression, stress, sleep disorders and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
However, meditation makes it possible to train in the regulation of emotions and stress and therefore promotes mental well-being. Studies carried out in the United States on young people show a very positive impact of meditation on depression, but also on memory and attention, two cognitive functions that deteriorate with age.
In addition, these improvements are confirmed by examinations on brain structures such as the frontal lobe or limbic structures (which are involved in memory) two areas of the brain whose volume decreases with age. Another effect of meditation is that it protects the ends of our chromosomes, the telomerases, which deteriorate when we get older.
Train to protect
For the Silver santé study (1), which starts in Caen under the direction of Gaël Chételat, specialist in neuroscience and INSERM research director, a group will be initiated and will therefore practice meditation between 20 minutes to 1 hour per day and the others will learn English.
Watch Medicine for Women with Gaël Chételat:
Why English? Because studies have already shown that being bilingual or even learning a foreign language would prevent Alzheimer’s disease. But according to Gaël Chételat, learning a musical instrument has the same impact on cognitive functions.
As for those wondering if doing both, learning English and meditating, would do even better, they won’t have the answer by the end of the study in 18 months. But we can assume, in this case, that the best is not the enemy of the good …
1 If you are interested in participating in this study, you can contact the managers by email: silversantestudy@cyceron.fr
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