Meditation can protect you from dementia. And now, there is research that proves that meditation can protect from dementia and Alzheimer's. This blog is about various studies that demonstrate how meditation can be a protective charm against dementia.
Meditation is an ancient relaxation technique. Until a few decades ago, the western world used meditation to increase brain power in older people. The method also majorly was for emotional health.
As of late, the new findings forge a new path for meditation. Studies reveal that meditation can open new doors for mental therapy. This goes beyond reducing stress and anxiety. According to experts, meditation can be the solution for dementia. Let's dive further into this science.
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Meditation for dementia: A scientific research
Dr Gael Chetelat, University of Caen Normandy, explains that meditation changes the global composite score. It is above any other non-native language training. The effects are most prominently seen in attention and socio-emotional capacities.
According to Dr Chetelat, meditation can adequately increase attention regulation in a human. Hence, meditation can lead to heightened awareness. It also allows a person to experience the benefits without fully absorbing them.
A study was conducted under Dr Chetelat to understand how meditation impacts dementia. The study considered a group of 137 people. They were divided into three groups after that. Two groups practised meditation and English in two-hour sessions regularly. Apart from that, they also practised the same at home for 20 minutes per day. The last group did not bother with any of this in their day-to-day lives.
Results:
The study confirmed how meditation and language learning could help improve adherence and lower attrition.
Fun fact: Did you know that experts estimate that the number of dementia cases will triple by 2050?
Dementia has no cure. The only way to reduce its impact is by improvising lifestyle choices to avoid it.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), which combines meditation with orthodox "thought training", is already recommended for depression in Britain and is available on the NHS.
The effects of Kirtan Kriya meditation
Kim Innes, a professor at West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, made a remarkable study on the effects of the Kirtan Kriya meditation.
The study considered blood samples from people who were predictable at the onset of Alzheimer's disease. The blood samples showed a reduction in telomere length and telomerase activity in their bodies. The reduction of the two enzymes is often seen as the core cause of cellular ageing.
Results:
The study showed that those in the group who practised meditation saw a more significant increase in telomere length and telomerase activity.
Kim Innes further argued that such diagnoses and treatments could cure diseases like dementia and Alzheimer's before the onset.
This was one of many benefits related to Kirtan Kriya meditation provided by studies. Here's more:
1. In 2015, a study revealed that kirtan kriya led to lower depressive symptoms and more significant mental health improvements. It also revealed that people who practised this meditation have more substantial memory storage. The study showed approximately 43% improvement in telomerase activity in subjects, the largest ever reported.
2. Studies have shown that meditation can reduce various symptoms related to Alzheimer's disease. For instance, it can reduce the inflammation associated with artery disease.
3. 12 minutes of kirtan kriya can improve sleep quality and reduce stress.
How does meditation benefit the brain?
The truth is, it's only recently that the world found how meditation can help stop the progression of dementia. But, the positive effects of meditation on the brain have been going around for more than 2 decades. Here are some of the scientifically proven benefits of meditation for the human brain:
1. Increase in protective tissues in the brain.
2. Create a barrier against causing atrophy in the hippocampus.
3. Relieve symptoms of anxiety and improve mental health.
4. Create fewer feelings of isolation and loneliness in senior adults.
5. Increase grey matter in the brain.
6. Increase the cortical thickness in the brain, which is related to memory storage and decision-making.
Other benefits of meditation include:
-Helping people quit smoking.
-Help cope with cancer.
-Prevent skin conditions like psoriasis.
-Improved attention and emotion regulation.
-Preserve brain structure in the elderly.
-Improve cognitive abilities.
-Reduction in stress and anxiety.
Did you know that meditation combined with yoga can prove phenomenal against dementia? Let's understand better in the next section.
Yoga and meditation for dementia
One of the most effective combinations for dementia and Alzheimer's is meditation done with yoga. Here are 5 ways meditation combined with yoga can help protect from dementia.
Yoga and meditation for new connections
Yoga and meditation can be great for stimulating different parts of the brain. This is where the combination becomes most helpful in curing dementia and Alzheimer's. Yoga and meditation, together, can engage with various parts of the brain. You can try asanas, chantings, and concentration. Each of these practices can help form effective brain connections by stimulating neuroplasticity.
Yoga and meditation as stress-killers
Several studies have shown that yoga with meditation can soothe your mind and diminish stress. Stress has a strong correlation with Alzheimer's. Moreover, stress can cause inflammation in the central nervous system and hormone dysregulation. Hence, lessening the impact of stress can have a positive effect on dementia and Alzheimer's. Yoga with meditation, thus, improves the quality of an adult's life by helping them cope effectively with stress.
Pranayama yoga and meditation for memory improvement
Performing pranayama yoga with meditation has been evidently valuable for improving memory. Furthermore, the combination has also helped in developing cognitive flexibility. Adults who face mild cognitive impairment can practise pranayama with mindfulness meditation. Moreover, practising pranayama with mindfulness meditation can decrease atrophy in the hippocampus (a complex brain structure responsible for memory storage). This is why you see yoga and meditation experts more relaxed. The same practitioners are also in a better position to be excellent caregivers.
Yoga and meditation against listening to the music
More studies have been conducted to prove that yoga and meditation together can be even more effective than listening to music. As per the popular theory, listening to music can reduce stress and improve sleep. But, research has proved that meditation with yoga can improve sleep quality faster. Additionally, it can also deal with early memory loss symptoms and enhance the overall quality of life. These studies addressed how yoga and meditation together calm the mind, reduce stress, improve memory storage, and increase telomerase activity. Performing kirtan kriya meditation with yoga for 12 to 24 weeks can also show astounding results on an adult's mental health.
Kundalini yoga with meditation
Experts believe that kundalini yoga, when performed with meditation, can have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Moreover, people with MCI with an average age of 55 are more likely to benefit from a 12-week kundalini intervention with meditation. The sessions can even help in memory improvement. Hence, most experts recommend meditation with kundalini yoga for MET (Memory Enhancement Training). The combination of kundalini yoga and meditation also has other benefits:
-Cognitive functioning
-Mood elevation
-Relief from symptoms of depression and resilience
-Increased apathy
Find your mental peace
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