The Association of Levels of Mindfulness on the Cognitive Performance of Community-Dwelling, Low-Educated Older Adults From a Middle-Income Country.

Older adults with higher levels of mindfulness tend to perform better on cognitive tests, even after accounting for years of education. In a cross-sectional study of seniors grouped by education level, those with higher mindfulness scores were more likely to score above the cutoff on the ACE-R cognitive screening. The association between mindfulness and cognitive performance remained significant when education was controlled for. The findings suggest a link between mindfulness and cognitive health in older adults, particularly those with limited formal schooling.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Limited information exists on the potential link between levels of mindfulness and cognitive performance in seniors with low education. This cross-sectional study aims to explore the association between mindfulness levels and cognitive performance in older adults with different years of education. Participants were grouped by education levels and assessed for cognitive performance (ACE-R; Digit Span test), levels of mindfulness (Langer Mindfulness Scale-21), and depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale-15). Group comparisons, correlations, and linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted (p < .05). Cognitive performance, mindfulness levels, and depressive symptoms differed between groups, and correlations were found between mindfulness levels, ACE-R, and Digit Span scores. After controlling for education, the association between mindfulness levels and ACE-R performance remained significant. Logistic regression revealed that higher education and mindfulness levels increased the likelihood of scoring above the ACE-R cut-off. This study underscores the association between levels of mindfulness and cognitive performance in older adults.