Mindfulness intervention for mild cognitive impairment led to attention-related improvements and neuroplastic changes: Results from a 9-month randomized control trial.
Journal of Psychiatric Research March 1, 2021 Junhong Yu, Iris Rawtaer, Lei Feng et al.
A nine-month mindfulness awareness program (MAP), compared with a health education program, improved working memory span and divided attention in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Cortical thickness increased in the right frontal pole and decreased in the left anterior cingulate after nine months. An early increase in the left inferior temporal gyrus after three months did not persist. The results suggest that sustained mindfulness practice can produce cognitive and neuroplastic changes even in people with mild cognitive impairment.