Meditation Can Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease: Study

A pilot study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease suggests meditation can prevent mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from progressing into Alzheimer's, reports the New York Post . Meditation was found to help relieve chronic stress, which adversely impacts the brain and raises the probability of developing Alzheimer's. The researchers studied 14 men and women ages 55 to 90 with diagnosed MCI, with nine participating in an eight-week-long mindfulness meditation or yoga course. Subjects who completed the course skewed toward better cognitive health and better understanding of mindfulness. "While the concept of mindfulness meditation is simple, the practice itself requires complex cognitive processes, discipline, and commitment," said Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Professor Rebecca Erwin Wells. "This study suggests that the cognitive impairment in MCI is not prohibitive of what is required to learn this new skill." Meditation also has been associated with a more satisfactory life, by helping practitioners feel more connected.