Effects of Meditation Training and Non-Native Language Training on Cognition in Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.
Harriet Demnitz-King, Florence Requier, Tim Whitfield, Marco Schlosser, Julie Gonneaud, Caitlin Ware, Thorsten Barnhofer, Nina Coll‐Padrós, Sophie Dautricourt, Marion Delarue, Olga Klimecki, Léo Paly, Eric Salmon, Ann‐Katrin Schild, Miranka Wirth, Eric Frison, Antoine Lutz, Gaël Chételat, Fabienne Collette, Natalie L. Marchant
JAMA Network Open July 3, 2023 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.17848 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 135 |
| Population | Community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older residing in Caen, France |
| Interventions | Meditation training Non-native language (English) training |
| Duration | 18-month intervention; final follow-up completed February 6, 2020 |
| Measures | Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite 5 (PACC5), episodic memory composite, executive function composite, attention composite |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Registration | NCT02977819 |
| Key findings | Meditation training and non-native language training over 18 months did not improve cognition in cognitively healthy older adults. No interaction effects were observed between visit and group for the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite 5, episodic memory, executive function, or attention, and results held across sensitivity and exploratory analyses. |
Abstract
Nonpharmacological interventions are a potential strategy to maintain or promote cognitive functioning in older adults. To investigate the effects of 18 months' meditation training and 18 months' non-native language training on cognition in older adults. This study was a secondary analysis of the Age-Well trial, an 18-month, observer-masked, randomized clinical trial with 3 parallel arms. Eligible participants were community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older residing in Caen, France. Participants were enrolled from November 24, 2016, to March 5, 2018, and randomly assigned (1:1:1) to meditation training, non-native language (English) training, or no intervention arms. Final follow-up was completed on February 6, 2020. Data were analyzed between December 2021 and November 2022. The 18-month meditation and non-native language training interventions were structurally equivalent and included 2-hour weekly group sessions, daily home practice of 20 minutes or longer, and 1 day of more intensive home practice. The no intervention group was instructed not to change their habits and to continue living as usual. Cognition (a prespecified secondary outcome of the Age-Well trial) was assessed preintervention and postintervention via the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite 5 (PACC5), and composites assessing episodic memory, executive function, and attention. Among 137 randomized participants, 2 were excluded for not meeting eligibility criteria, leaving 135 (mean [SD] age, 69.3 [3.8] years; 83 female [61%]) eligible for analysis. One participant among the remaining 135 did not complete the trial. In adjusted mixed effects models, no interaction effects were observed between visit and group for PACC5 (F2,131.39 = 2.58; P = .08), episodic memory (F2,131.60 = 2.34; P = .10), executive function (F2,131.26 = 0.89; P = .41), or attention (F2,131.20 = 0.34; P = .79). Results remained substantively unchanged across sensitivity and exploratory analyses. In this secondary analysis of an 18-month randomized trial, meditation and non-native language training did not confer salutary cognitive effects. Although further analyses are needed to explore the effects of these interventions on other relevant outcomes related to aging and well-being, these findings did not support the use of these interventions for enhancing cognition in cognitively healthy older adults. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02977819.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Metabolomic profiles impacted by brief mindfulness intervention with contributions to improved health. Scientific Reports July 25, 2025
- Meditation dosage predicts self- and teacher-perceived responsiveness to an 18-month randomised controlled trial Scientific Reports November 2, 2024
- Mindfulness and meditation: Promoting emotional and cognitive health. Progress in Brain Research 2025
- A fully remote randomized controlled trial of an ultra-brief digital meditation intervention reduces internalizing symptoms medRxiv Preprint Server April 19, 2026
- Examining cognitive differences in expert meditators and non-meditators older adults. Scientific Reports May 15, 2025
and 3 more in the library
Cites 7
- Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- The Effect of Mindfulness-based Programs on Cognitive Function in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Neuropsychology Review August 4, 2021
- The Age‐Well randomized controlled trial of the Medit‐Ageing European project: Effect of meditation or foreign language training on brain and mental health in older adults Alzheimer's & Dementia 2018
- Effect of an 18-Month Meditation Training on Regional Brain Volume and Perfusion in Older Adults JAMA Neurology October 10, 2022
- Effects of Mindfulness Training and Exercise on Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA December 13, 2022
and 2 more in the library