Effect of mindfulness meditation on attention and executive functions in elderly people

Authors

  • Bhagya Kodavanji Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, KMC Mangalore, A Unit of Manipal University, Karnataka
  • Naren Kurmi Department of Physiology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal University, Karnataka
  • Rekha D K Department of Physiology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal University, Karnataka
  • Sheila R Pai Department of Physiology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal University, Karnataka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7439/ijbr.v6i3.1736

Abstract

Objectives: Elderly people are more prone to decline in cognitive functions, This study was amied to observe the effect of mindfulness meditation on the attention and executive functions in elderly people. Methods: In this case control study 100 elderly people (>60 year old) were randomly divided into study (meditating) group (n=50) and control (non-meditating) group (n=50). Meditation group did mindfulness meditation for 45day (half an hour/day, for 6 days in a week). Before and after the study period attention and executive function of both groups were assessed by Trail making test(TMT) type A and type B. Statistical analysis was done by using independent and paired students t test. P value ? 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Between both the groups, there were no significant different in the baseline scores for TMT type A (p value =0.06) and type B (p value = 0.91.After study period, significant improvement were noticed in the scores of TMT type A scores (p =0 .036) and type B scores (p =0.002) for the study group. On the other hand there were no significant variations in the TMT type A (P = 0.663) and type B (p= .239) scores of control group. Conclusions: This study showed that, mindfulness meditation practice has positive effect on the attention and executive functions in elderly people. Regular mindfulness meditation may improve the quality of life.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

  • Bhagya Kodavanji, Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, KMC Mangalore, A Unit of Manipal University, Karnataka
    Associate professor, Department of Physiology, KMC Mangalore, A Unit of Manipal University, Karnataka, India.

Downloads

Published

2015-03-30

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 3 (2015): Mar

Section

Original Research Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  • Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
  • Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
  • An author must submit Copyright form After acceptance of the article.

How to Cite

1.
Effect of mindfulness meditation on attention and executive functions in elderly people. Int Jour of Biomed Res [Internet]. 2015 Mar. 30 [cited 2026 Mar. 29];6(3):181-4. Available from: https://ssjournals.co.in/index.php/ijbr/article/view/1736