Mind-Body Therapies for Late-Life Mental and Cognitive Health.
Kelsey T. Laird, Pattharee Paholpak, Michael Roman, Berna Rahi, Helen Lavretsky
Current Psychiatry Reports January 25, 2018 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-018-0864-4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Older adults with late-life mood and cognitive disorders |
| Interventions | tai chi walking meditation) |
| Keywords | Cognition Geriatric mood disorders Mind-body interventions |
| Key findings | The authors conclude that mind-body therapies, including yoga, tai chi, and walking meditation, are effective for enhancing well-being, mood, sleep, and cognition in older adults, and suggest that mindful movement may outperform conventional physical exercise for quality of life, mood, and cognitive functioning. They recommend these therapies as holistic options for managing late-life mood and cognitive disorders. |
Abstract
A growing body of research supports the use of mind-body therapies (MBTs) as minimally invasive and effective approaches for the management of late-life mood and cognitive disorders. Recent randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses indicate that MBTs are effective for enhancing well-being, mood, sleep, and cognition in older adults. Evidence suggests that mindful movement (e.g., yoga, tai chi, walking meditation) may even outperform conventional physical exercise with regard to effects on quality of life, mood, and cognitive functioning. Practitioners may recommend MBTs as holistic, effective approaches for the management of common late-life mood and cognitive disorders. Continued research on MBTs will inform the development of even more effective/targeted interventions and contribute to greater acceptance and integration of these therapies into geriatric medicine and psychiatry.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Effect of Body Scanning and Walking Mindfulness on the Spatial Memory of Persons with Dementia Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental August 11, 2025
- Does Meditation Improve Cognition Through Sleep? November 19, 2022
- Hierarchical control systems for the regulation of physiological homeostasis and affect: Can their interactions modulate mood and anhedonia? Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews August 20, 2019
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