Mindfulness meditation is on the rise. Inspired by Asian philosophies, this discipline would have many health benefits: it would help us fight against our addictions, repel our dark thoughts, limit stress and pain, reduce our cardiovascular risk …
According to a new study conducted by the University of Miami (in the United States) and published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, meditating regularly can also delay cognitive decline in seniors by boosting their attention and concentration on a daily basis.
To reach this conclusion, the researchers followed volunteers for 7 years: in 2011, they (whose average age was 48 at the time) were invited to follow an introductory course in mindfulness for 3 months. They were then encouraged to continue to meditate regularly each day.
A positive impact on cognitive decline
Verdict? In 2018 (7 years after the experience, therefore), the volunteers who had continued to meditate regularly after their internship had less cognitive decline than the others: their attention and concentration, in particular, were better than average.
“We believe that mindfulness meditation is a valuable tool for slowing brain aging in older people,” says Anthony Zanesco, lead author of this work. It is not necessary to practice intensively: a few minutes a day is enough to obtain satisfactory results. It is a routine that is easy to adopt on a daily basis, accessible to all and really beneficial. »When do we get started?
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