Mindfulness and meditation: Promoting emotional and cognitive health.
Progress in brain research January 1, 2025 Nethmini Navoda Sirimanne, Nupur Dahiya, Garbis Papazian et al. 1 citation
A review of clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and neuroscientific studies indicates that mindfulness and meditation practices can enhance cognitive function, emotional resilience, and overall mental health in older adults. These benefits appear to arise through mechanisms such as neuroplasticity, increased gray matter density, improved autonomic balance, and reduced cortisol secretion. However, the evidence is limited by methodological variability across studies, and there are potential psychological risks such as anxiety or dissociative symptoms, as well as cultural sensitivity concerns. The authors conclude that mindfulness and meditation are effective therapeutic approaches for age-related emotional and cognitive impairments, but call for greater methodological standardization, cultural adaptation, and the use of digital platforms and virtual reality to improve accessibility and effectiveness.