Meditation, Music May Help Reverse Early Memory Loss in Adults

In a recent study of adults with early memory loss, scientists from West Virginia University found that practice of a simple meditation or music listening program may have multiple benefits for older adults with preclinical memory loss.

Meditation, Music May Help Reverse Early Memory Loss in Adults. Image credit: tasnimnews.com (CC BY 4.0)

In this randomized controlled trial, 60 older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), a condition that may represent a preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease, were assigned to either a beginner meditation or music listening program and asked to practice 12 minutes/day for 12 weeks.

Both the meditation and music groups showed marked and significant improvements in subjective memory function and objective cognitive performance at 3 months.

These included domains of cognitive functioning most likely to be affected in preclinical and early stages of dementia (e.g., attention, executive function, processing speed, and subjective memory function).

The substantial gains observed in memory and cognition were maintained or further increased at 6 months (3 months post-intervention).

Both intervention groups also showed improvements in sleep, mood, stress, well-being and quality of life, with gains that were that were particularly pronounced in the meditation group; again, all benefits were sustained or further enhanced at 3 months post-intervention. (Tasnim News Agency)

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