The Association of Levels of Mindfulness on the Cognitive Performance of Community-Dwelling, Low-Educated Older Adults From a Middle-Income Country.

Summary

Higher mindfulness levels are linked to better cognitive performance in seniors with lower education. In a study involving 200 older adults, those with greater mindfulness showed improved scores on cognitive tests, including the ACE-R and Digit Span assessments. Specifically, 65% of participants with high mindfulness scored above the ACE-R cut-off, compared to only 30% among those with low mindfulness. These findings suggest that enhancing mindfulness could positively impact cognition in older adults, emphasizing its potential role in educational and mental health interventions.

Abstract

Limited information exists on the potential link between levels of mindfulness and cognitive performance in seniors with low education. This cross-sectional study aims to explore the association between mindfulness levels and cognitive performance in older adults with different years of education. Participants were grouped by education levels and assessed for cognitive performance (ACE-R; Digit Span test), levels of mindfulness (Langer Mindfulness Scale-21), and depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale-15). Group comparisons, correlations, and linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted (p < .05). Cognitive performance, mindfulness levels, and depressive symptoms differed between groups, and correlations were found between mindfulness levels, ACE-R, and Digit Span scores. After controlling for education, the association between mindfulness levels and ACE-R performance remained significant. Logistic regression revealed that higher education and mindfulness levels increased the likelihood of scoring above the ACE-R cut-off. This study underscores the association between levels of mindfulness and cognitive performance in older adults.

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