Cerebral Blood Flow and Brain Functional Connectivity Changes in Older Adults Participating in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program.
Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) February 14, 2022 Aleeze Sattar Moss, Diane K. Reibel, Nancy Wintering et al.
After an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, 11 elderly adults (mean age 79) showed altered cerebral blood flow and functional connectivity in brain regions including the cingulate gyrus, limbic structures, and parts of the temporal and frontal lobes. These changes resembled those seen in younger meditators and were accompanied by significant improvements in depression symptoms. The findings suggest that MBSR may modify brain function in older adults.