Her team found evidence of that in specialized MRI scans that charted study participants’ brain activity. In both groups, changes were seen in the “connectivity” of certain brain networks involved in memory.
The findings, published May 10 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, are based on this small group of older adults followed for a limited time.
So it’s hard to draw firm conclusions, said Mary Sano, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine, in New York City.
For one, she said, older adults with mild cognitive impairment are an “amorphous group.” It can include people with temporary memory issues, or anxiety over memory lapses that are not pathological.
“The study participants’ scores were pretty high, so that raises the question, are they really impaired or just nervous [about memory issues]?” said Sano, who was not involved in the study.
That said, many other studies have pointed to “neural effects” from meditation, Sano noted. So it’s not surprising, she said, that people who practiced it would show changes on memory tests.
For the study, all the adults recruited by Lavretsky’s team were ages 55 and older who had memory complaints — forgetting names and appointments, or misplacing things, for example.
Eleven went through 12 weekly sessions in memory enhancement training, which has proven helpful in past studies of people with mild impairments. It involves learning techniques for managing memory issues, and performing mental exercises at home — ranging from crossword puzzles to computer-based programs.
The yoga/meditation group also had a weekly class. It involved breathing practices, “kriyas” — which combine some movement, stretching and breathing exercises — and meditation. Their homework was to perform the 12-minute meditation every day on their own.
The study tested a specific form of meditation called kirtan kriya, which involves hand movements, chanting mantras and visualizations.
That combination, said Lavretsky, may be particularly engaging for the mind.
Since the study couldn’t prove cause-and-effect, what’s not clear, Sano said, is whether the study results reflect a specific effect of meditation. Learning a new activity stimulates the mind — as does the social engagement of group classes, she explained.
Lavretsky agreed, and noted that many different activities — physical, mental and social — could help keep the brain fit.
“People like different things,” Lavretsky said. “Personally, I don’t like crossword puzzles. Mind-body practices, like yoga and meditation, offer another option.”
The study tested a specific form of meditation, so it’s not known whether other types would show the same results, Sano said.
On the other hand, she said, giving meditation a try is unlikely to be risky.
Older people who want to try a class should be aware that some “yoga” classes may involve a vigorous physical practice and little or no meditation, Lavretsky said.
She suggested that older adults with physical limitations look for gentler forms of yoga, such as restorative yoga and yin yoga. They can also try classes that focus on meditation alone.