Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Aging Mindfully to Minimize Cognitive Decline

  • Mini-Review
  • Published:
Journal of Cognitive Enhancement Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aging is known to be associated with a decline in cognitive performance and ability. However, it has been shown that programs geared towards training cognitive processes can amend or even reverse age-related cognitive decline, at least partly. Engaging the brain in intense mental processes, such as those occurring during meditation, might constitute a form of cognitive training. Thus, if practiced regularly, with a certain level of intensity, and over longer periods of time, meditation may be a means to counteract the normal effects of aging on cognition. Although systematic research is still sparse, existing studies seem to provide initial data suggesting that meditation improves cognition overall (independent of aging) and, perhaps even more importantly, reduces age-related cognitive decline. This review integrates the existing literature on cognitive changes due to aging as well as induced (or enhanced) by meditation, while identifying critical links still missing to unambiguously ascertain whether meditation can significantly contribute to optimizing and delaying brain aging.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the percentage of the population aged 60 or older is expected to double by 2050 worldwide.

References

  • Acevedo, B. P., Pospos, S., & Lavretsky, H. (2016). The neural mechanisms of meditative practices: novel approaches for healthy aging. Current Behavioral Neuroscience Reports, 3, 328–339.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Akbaraly, T. N., Portet, F., Fustinoni, S., Dartigues, J. F., Artero, S., Rouaud, O., Touchon, J., Ritchie, K., & Berr, C. (2009). Leisure activities and the risk of dementia in the elderly: results from the Three-City Study. Neurology, 73, 854–861.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, C. N., Langer, E. J., Newman, R. I., Chandler, H. M., & Davies, J. L. (1989). Transcendental meditation, mindfulness, and longevity: an experimental study with the elderly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 950–964.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arenaza-Urquijo, E.M., de Flores, R., Gonneaud, J., Wirth, M., Ourry, V., Callewaert, W., Landeau, B., Egret, S., Mezenge, F., Desgranges, B., Chetelat, G., (2016). Distinct effects of late adulthood cognitive and physical activities on gray matter volume. Brain Imaging Behav 11, 346–356.

  • Berk, L., van Boxtel, M., van Os, J., (2016). Can mindfulness-based interventions influence cognitive functioning in older adults? A review and considerations for future research. Aging Ment Health, 1–8.

  • Boyle, P. A., Yu, L., Wilson, R. S., Gamble, K., Buchman, A. S., & Bennett, D. A. (2012). Poor decision making is a consequence of cognitive decline among older persons without Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment. PloS One, 7, e43647.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Brayne, C., Ince, P. G., Keage, H. A., McKeith, I. G., Matthews, F. E., Polvikoski, T., & Sulkava, R. (2010). Education, the brain and dementia: neuroprotection or compensation? Brain, 133, 2210–2216.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chambers, R., Lo, B.C.Y., Allen, N.B. (2008). The impact of intensive mindfulness training on attentional control, cognitive style, and affect. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 32, 303–322.

  • Chan, D., & Woollacott, M. (2007). Effects of level of meditation experience on attentional focus: is the efficiency of executive or orientation networks improved? Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 13, 651–657.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chiesa, A., Calati, R., & Serretti, A. (2011). Does mindfulness training improve cognitive abilities? A systematic review of neuropsychological findings. Clinical Psychology Review, 31, 449–464.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coffey, C. E., Lucke, J. F., Saxton, J. A., Ratcliff, G., Unitas, L. J., Billig, B., & Bryan, R. N. (1998). Sex differences in brain aging: a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging study. Archives of Neurology, 55, 169–179.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Draganski, B., Gaser, C., Busch, V., Schuierer, G., Bogdahn, U., & May, A. (2004). Neuroplasticity: Cchanges in grey matter induced by training. Nature, 427, 311–312.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ernst, S., Welke, J., Heintze, C., Gabriel, R., Zollner, A., Kiehne, S., Schwantes, U., & Esch, T. (2008). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on quality of life in nursing home residents: a feasibility study. Forschende Komplementärmedizin, 15, 74–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fjell, A. M., McEvoy, L., Holland, D., Dale, A. M., & Walhovd, K. B. (2014). What is normal in normal aging? Effects of aging, amyloid and Alzheimer’s disease on the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus. Progress in Neurobiology, 117C, 20–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fotenos, A. F., Snyder, A. Z., Girton, L. E., Morris, J. C., & Buckner, R. L. (2005). Normative estimates of cross-sectional and longitudinal brain volume decline in aging and AD. Neurology, 64, 1032–1039.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gard, T., Holzel, B. K., & Lazar, S. W. (2014). The potential effects of meditation on age-related cognitive decline: a systematic review. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1307, 89–103.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hibar, D. P., Adams, H. H., Jahanshad, N., Chauhan, G., Stein, J. L., Hofer, E., Renteria, M. E., Bis, J. C., Arias-Vasquez, A., Ikram, M. K., Desrivieres, S., Vernooij, M. W., Abramovic, L., Alhusaini, S., Amin, N., Andersson, M., Arfanakis, K., Aribisala, B. S., Armstrong, N. J., Athanasiu, L., Axelsson, T., Beecham, A. H., Beiser, A., Bernard, M., Blanton, S. H., Bohlken, M. M., Boks, M. P., Bralten, J., Brickman, A. M., Carmichael, O., Chakravarty, M. M., Chen, Q., Ching, C. R., Chouraki, V., Cuellar-Partida, G., Crivello, F., Den Braber, A., Doan, N. T., Ehrlich, S., Giddaluru, S., Goldman, A. L., Gottesman, R. F., Grimm, O., Griswold, M. E., Guadalupe, T., Gutman, B. A., Hass, J., Haukvik, U. K., Hoehn, D., Holmes, A. J., Hoogman, M., Janowitz, D., Jia, T., Jorgensen, K. N., Karbalai, N., Kasperaviciute, D., Kim, S., Klein, M., Kraemer, B., Lee, P. H., Liewald, D. C., Lopez, L. M., Luciano, M., Macare, C., Marquand, A. F., Matarin, M., Mather, K. A., Mattheisen, M., McKay, D. R., Milaneschi, Y., Munoz Maniega, S., Nho, K., Nugent, A. C., Nyquist, P., Loohuis, L. M., Oosterlaan, J., Papmeyer, M., Pirpamer, L., Putz, B., Ramasamy, A., Richards, J. S., Risacher, S. L., Roiz-Santianez, R., Rommelse, N., Ropele, S., Rose, E. J., Royle, N. A., Rundek, T., Samann, P. G., Saremi, A., Satizabal, C. L., Schmaal, L., Schork, A. J., Shen, L., Shin, J., Shumskaya, E., Smith, A. V., Sprooten, E., Strike, L. T., Teumer, A., Tordesillas-Gutierrez, D., Toro, R., Trabzuni, D., Trompet, S., Vaidya, D., Van der Grond, J., Van der Lee, S. J., Van der Meer, D., Van Donkelaar, M. M., Van Eijk, K. R., Van Erp, T. G., Van Rooij, D., Walton, E., Westlye, L. T., Whelan, C. D., Windham, B. G., Winkler, A. M., Wittfeld, K., Woldehawariat, G., Wolf, C., Wolfers, T., Yanek, L. R., Yang, J., Zijdenbos, A., Zwiers, M. P., Agartz, I., Almasy, L., Ames, D., Amouyel, P., Andreassen, O. A., Arepalli, S., Assareh, A. A., Barral, S., Bastin, M. E., Becker, D. M., Becker, J. T., Bennett, D. A., Blangero, J., van Bokhoven, H., Boomsma, D. I., Brodaty, H., Brouwer, R. M., Brunner, H. G., Buckner, R. L., Buitelaar, J. K., Bulayeva, K. B., Cahn, W., Calhoun, V. D., Cannon, D. M., Cavalleri, G. L., Cheng, C. Y., Cichon, S., Cookson, M. R., Corvin, A., Crespo-Facorro, B., Curran, J. E., Czisch, M., Dale, A. M., Davies, G. E., De Craen, A. J., De Geus, E. J., De Jager, P. L., De Zubicaray, G. I., Deary, I. J., Debette, S., DeCarli, C., Delanty, N., Depondt, C., DeStefano, A., Dillman, A., Djurovic, S., Donohoe, G., Drevets, W. C., Duggirala, R., Dyer, T. D., Enzinger, C., Erk, S., Espeseth, T., Fedko, I. O., Fernandez, G., Ferrucci, L., Fisher, S. E., Fleischman, D. A., Ford, I., Fornage, M., Foroud, T. M., Fox, P. T., Francks, C., Fukunaga, M., Gibbs, J. R., Glahn, D. C., Gollub, R. L., Goring, H. H., Green, R. C., Gruber, O., Gudnason, V., Guelfi, S., Haberg, A. K., Hansell, N. K., Hardy, J., Hartman, C. A., Hashimoto, R., Hegenscheid, K., Heinz, A., Le Hellard, S., Hernandez, D. G., Heslenfeld, D. J., Ho, B. C., Hoekstra, P. J., Hoffmann, W., Hofman, A., Holsboer, F., Homuth, G., Hosten, N., Hottenga, J. J., Huentelman, M., Pol, H. E., Ikeda, M., Jack Jr., C. R., Jenkinson, M., Johnson, R., Jonsson, E. G., Jukema, J. W., Kahn, R. S., Kanai, R., Kloszewska, I., Knopman, D. S., Kochunov, P., Kwok, J. B., Lawrie, S. M., Lemaitre, H., Liu, X., Longo, D. L., Lopez, O. L., Lovestone, S., Martinez, O., Martinot, J. L., Mattay, V. S., McDonald, C., McIntosh, A. M., McMahon, F. J., McMahon, K. L., Mecocci, P., Melle, I., Meyer-Lindenberg, A., Mohnke, S., Montgomery, G. W., Morris, D. W., Mosley, T. H., Muhleisen, T. W., Muller-Myhsok, B., Nalls, M. A., Nauck, M., Nichols, T. E., Niessen, W. J., Nothen, M. M., Nyberg, L., Ohi, K., Olvera, R. L., Ophoff, R. A., Pandolfo, M., Paus, T., Pausova, Z., Penninx, B. W., Pike, G. B., Potkin, S. G., Psaty, B. M., Reppermund, S., Rietschel, M., Roffman, J. L., Romanczuk-Seiferth, N., Rotter, J. I., Ryten, M., Sacco, R. L., Sachdev, P. S., Saykin, A. J., Schmidt, R., Schmidt, H., Schofield, P. R., Sigursson, S., Simmons, A., Singleton, A., Sisodiya, S. M., Smith, C., Smoller, J. W., Soininen, H., Steen, V. M., Stott, D. J., Sussmann, J. E., Thalamuthu, A., Toga, A. W., Traynor, B. J., Troncoso, J., Tsolaki, M., Tzourio, C., Uitterlinden, A. G., Hernandez, M. C., Van der Brug, M., van der Lugt, A., van der Wee, N. J., Van Haren, N. E., van 't Ent, D., Van Tol, M. J., Vardarajan, B. N., Vellas, B., Veltman, D. J., Volzke, H., Walter, H., Wardlaw, J. M., Wassink, T. H., Weale, M. E., Weinberger, D. R., Weiner, M. W., Wen, W., Westman, E., White, T., Wong, T. Y., Wright, C. B., Zielke, R. H., Zonderman, A. B., Martin, N. G., Van Duijn, C. M., Wright, M. J., Longstreth, W. T., Schumann, G., Grabe, H. J., Franke, B., Launer, L. J., Medland, S. E., Seshadri, S., Thompson, P. M., & Ikram, M. A. (2017). Novel genetic loci associated with hippocampal volume. Nature Communications, 8, 13624.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgins, H. S., & Adair, K. C. (2010). Attentional processes and meditation. Consciousness and Cognition, 19, 872–878.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • IOM (Institute of Medicine). (2015). Cognitive aging: progress in understanding and opportunities for action. Washington: National Academies Press (US).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jha, A. P., Krompinger, J., & Baime, M. J. (2007). Mindfulness training modifies subsystems of attention. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 7, 109–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kassem, A. M., Ganguli, M., Yaffe, K., Hanlon, J. T., Lopez, O. L., Wilson, J. W., Cauley, J. A., & Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study Research, G. (2017). Anxiety symptoms and risk of cognitive decline in older community-dwelling men. International Psychogeriatrics, 1–9.

  • Kelly, M. E., Loughrey, D., Lawlor, B. A., Robertson, I. H., Walsh, C., & Brennan, S. (2014). The impact of cognitive training and mental stimulation on cognitive and everyday functioning of healthy older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ageing Research Reviews, 15, 28–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kurth, F., Cherbuin, N., & Luders, E. (2017). Promising links between meditation and reduced (brain) aging: an attempt to bridge some gaps between the alleged fountain of youth and the youth of the field. Frontiers in Psychology. 8:860. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00860.

  • Langer, E.J. (1992). Matters of mind: mindfulness/mindlessness in perspective. Consciousness and Cognition: An International Journal. 1, 289–305.

  • Langer, E.J., Moldoveanu, M. (2000). The construct of mindfulness. Journal of Social Issues.56, 1–9.

  • Lavretsky, H., Epel, E. S., Siddarth, P., Nazarian, N., Cyr, N. S., Khalsa, D. S., Lin, J., Blackburn, E., & Irwin, M. R. (2013). A pilot study of yogic meditation for family dementia caregivers with depressive symptoms: effects on mental health, cognition, and telomerase activity. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28, 57–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lenze, E. J., Hickman, S., Hershey, T., Wendleton, L., Ly, K., Dixon, D., Dore, P., & Wetherell, J. L. (2014). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for older adults with worry symptoms and co-occurring cognitive dysfunction. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 29, 991–1000.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lindenberger, U., & Ghisletta, P. (2009). Cognitive and sensory declines in old age: gauging the evidence for a common cause. Psychology and Aging, 24, 1–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lippelt, D. P., Hommel, B., & Colzato, L. S. (2014). Focused attention, open monitoring and loving kindness meditation: effects on attention, conflict monitoring, and creativity—a review. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 1083.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Luders, E. (2014). Exploring age-related brain degeneration in meditation practitioners. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1307, 82–88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luders, E., Cherbuin, N. (2016). Searching for the philosopher’s stone: promising links between meditation and brain preservation. Special Issue: Advances in Meditation Research 1373, 38–44.

  • Luders, E., Cherbuin, N., & Gaser, C. (2016). Estimating brain age using high-resolution pattern recognition: younger brains in long-term meditation practitioners. NeuroImage, 134, 508–513.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lutz, A., Slagter, H. A., Dunne, J. D., & Davidson, R. J. (2008). Attention regulation and monitoring in meditation. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 12, 163–169.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mallya, S., Fiocco, A.J. (2016). Effects of mindfulness training on cognition and well-being in healthy older adults. Mindfulness. 7, 453–465.

  • Marciniak, R., Sheardova, K., Cermakova, P., Hudecek, D., Sumec, R., & Hort, J. (2014). Effect of meditation on cognitive functions in context of aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 8, 17.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • McHugh, L., Simpson, A., & Reed, P. (2010). Mindfulness as a potential intervention for stimulus over-selectivity in older adults. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 31, 178–184.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, A., & Malinowski, P. (2009). Meditation, mindfulness and cognitive flexibility. Consciousness and Cognition, 18, 176–186.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moynihan, J. A., Chapman, B. P., Klorman, R., Krasner, M. S., Duberstein, P. R., Brown, K. W., & Talbot, N. L. (2013). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for older adults: effects on executive function, frontal alpha asymmetry and immune function. Neuropsychobiology, 68, 34–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Newberg, A. B., Wintering, N., Khalsa, D. S., Roggenkamp, H., & Waldman, M. R. (2010). Meditation effects on cognitive function and cerebral blood flow in subjects with memory loss: a preliminary study. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 20, 517–526.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oh, H., Madison, C., Villeneuve, S., Markley, C., & Jagust, W. J. (2014). Association of gray matter atrophy with age, beta-amyloid, and cognition in aging. Cerebral Cortex, 24, 1609–1618.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oken, B. S., Fonareva, I., Haas, M., Wahbeh, H., Lane, J. B., Zajdel, D., & Amen, A. (2010). Pilot controlled trial of mindfulness meditation and education for dementia caregivers. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16, 1031–1038.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ortner, C.N.M., Kilner, S.J., Zelazo, P.D. (2007). Mindfulness meditation and reduced emotional interference on a cognitive task. Motivation and Emotion. 31, 271–283.

  • Pagnoni, G., & Cekic, M. (2007). Age effects on gray matter volume and attentional performance in Zen meditation. Neurobiology of Aging, 28, 1623–1627.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Park, D. C., Lautenschlager, G., Hedden, T., Davidson, N. S., Smith, A. D., & Smith, P. K. (2002). Models of visuospatial and verbal memory across the adult life span. Psychology and Aging, 17, 299–320.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Park, D. C., & Reuter-Lorenz, P. (2009). The adaptive brain: aging and neurocognitive scaffolding. Annual Review of Psychology, 60, 173–196.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Prakash, R., Rastogi, P., Dubey, I., Abhishek, P., Chaudhury, S., & Small, B. J. (2012). Long-term concentrative meditation and cognitive performance among older adults. Neuropsychology, development, and cognition. Section B, Aging, neuropsychology and cognition, 19, 479–494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raz, N., Ghisletta, P., Rodrigue, K. M., Kennedy, K. M., & Lindenberger, U. (2010). Trajectories of brain aging in middle-aged and older adults: regional and individual differences. NeuroImage, 51, 501–511.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Reijnders, J., van Heugten, C., & van Boxtel, M. (2013). Cognitive interventions in healthy older adults and people with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review. Ageing Research Reviews, 12, 263–275.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reinvang, I., Espeseth, T., & Westlye, L. T. (2013). APOE-related biomarker profiles in non-pathological aging and early phases of Alzheimer’s disease. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 37, 1322–1335.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rönnlund, M., & Nilsson, L.-G. (2006). Adult life-span patterns in WAIS-R block design performance: cross-sectional versus longitudinal age gradients and relations to demographic factors. Intelligence, 34, 63–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ronnlund, M., Nyberg, L., Backman, L., & Nilsson, L. G. (2005). Stability, growth, and decline in adult life span development of declarative memory: cross-sectional and longitudinal data from a population-based study. Psychology and Aging, 20, 3–18.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salthouse, T. (2012). Consequences of age-related cognitive declines. Annual Review of Psychology, 63, 201–226.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salthouse, T. A. (2010). Selective review of cognitive aging. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society: JINS, 16, 754–760.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Salthouse, T. A. (2011). Neuroanatomical substrates of age-related cognitive decline. Psychological Bulletin, 137, 753–784.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Samson, R. D., & Barnes, C. A. (2013). Impact of aging brain circuits on cognition. The European Journal of Neuroscience, 37, 1903–1915.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Schaie, K. W. (2005). What can we learn from longitudinal studies of adult development? Research in Human Development, 2, 133–158.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sperduti, M., Makowski, D., & Piolino, P. (2016). The protective role of long-term meditation on the decline of the executive component of attention in aging: a preliminary cross-sectional study. Neuropsychology, Development, and Cognition. Section B, Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition, 23, 691–702.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stern, C., & Munn, Z. (2010). Cognitive leisure activities and their role in preventing dementia: a systematic review. International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, 8, 2–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, J., Kang, J., Wang, P., & Zeng, H. (2013). Self-relaxation training can improve sleep quality and cognitive functions in the older: a one-year randomised controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 22, 1270–1280.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tardif, S., & Simard, M. (2011). Cognitive stimulation programs in healthy elderly: a review. International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2011, 378934, doi:10.4061/2011/378934.

  • Valentine, E.R., Sweet, P.L.G. (1999). Meditation and attention: a comparison of the effects of concentrative and mindfulness meditation on sustained attention. Mental Health, Religion & Culture. 2, 59–70.

  • van den Hurk, P.A.M., Giommi, F., Gielen, S.C., Speckens, A.E.M., Barendregt, H.P. (2010). Greater efficiency in attentional processing related to mindfulness meditation. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 63, pp.

  • van Leeuwen, S., Muller, N. G., & Melloni, L. (2009). Age effects on attentional blink performance in meditation. Consciousness and Cognition, 18, 593–599.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verhaeghen, P., & Salthouse, T. A. (1997). Meta-analyses of age-cognition relations in adulthood: Estimates of linear and nonlinear age effects and structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 122, 231–249.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walhovd, K. B., Westlye, L. T., Amlien, I., Espeseth, T., Reinvang, I., Raz, N., Agartz, I., Salat, D. H., Greve, D. N., Fischl, B., Dale, A. M., & Fjell, A. M. (2011a). Consistent neuroanatomical age-related volume differences across multiple samples. Neurobiology of Aging, 32, 916–932.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walhovd, K. B., Westlye, L. T., Amlien, I., Espeseth, T., Reinvang, I., Raz, N., Agartz, I., Salat, D. H., Greve, D. N., Fischl, B., Dale, A. M., & Fjell, A. M. (2011b). Consistent neuroanatomical age-related volume differences across multiple samples. Neurobiology of Aging, 32, 916–932.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wenk-Sormaz, H. (2005). Meditation can reduce habitual responding. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 11, 42–58.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • WHO. (2012). Dementia: a public health priority. Geneva: Switzerland.

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO. (2015). WHO: number of people over 60 years set to double by 2050; major societal changes required. Geneva: Switzerland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu, J., Kobayashi, S., Yamaguchi, S., Iijima, K., Okada, K., & Yamashita, K. (2000). Gender effects on age-related changes in brain structure. AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 21, 112–118.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zeidan, F., Johnson, S. K., Diamond, B. J., David, Z., & Goolkasian, P. (2010). Mindfulness meditation improves cognition: evidence of brief mental training. Consciousness and Cognition, 19, 597–605.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

E.L. is supported by the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Florian Kurth, Nicolas Cherbuin, and Eileen Luders have contributed equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, 300 Medical Plaza, Suite 3148, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-7334, USA

    Florian Kurth & Eileen Luders

  2. Centre for Research on Ageing Health and Wellbeing, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

    Nicolas Cherbuin & Eileen Luders

Authors
  1. Florian Kurth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nicolas Cherbuin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Eileen Luders
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Florian Kurth.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kurth, F., Cherbuin, N. & Luders, E. Aging Mindfully to Minimize Cognitive Decline. J Cogn Enhanc 1, 108–114 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-017-0027-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-017-0027-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation