Long-term meditators had a brain age index 5.9 years younger than their chronological age, compared to a difference of -0.24 years in healthy controls and 10.5 years older in people with dementia. The study used overnight electroencephalography to estimate brain age from sleep brain activity in 34 meditators attending a retreat, alongside several comparison groups. The results suggest that advanced meditation may be associated with enhanced brain health and slower brain aging.
Meditation practices from the Inner Engineering program, which includes Shambhavi Mahudra Kriya (alternate nostril breathing, AUM chanting, breath awareness, and postural yoga) along with guided meditation and reflective writing, support emotional regulation, cognitive reappraisal, and positive affect. These benefits contribute to healthier interpersonal relationships by enhancing self-awareness, resilience, and empathy. The program is described as a non-religious, scalable intervention that may help manage emotional reactivity and strengthen relationships, thereby addressing relationship difficulties that are a major source of anxiety and social withdrawal.