It is projected that up to 152 million people worldwide will be living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by 2050. To date there are no drugs that have a substantial positive impact on either the prevention or reversal of cognitive decline.
A growing body of evidence finds that targeting lifestyle and vascular risk factors has a beneficial effect on overall cognitive performance.
In a new study from Thomas Jefferson University, researchers found spiritual fitness, a new concept in medicine that centers on psychological and spiritual wellbeing, and Kirtan Kriya, a simple 12-minute meditative practice, may reduce multiple risk factors for AD.
Research reveals that religious and spiritual involvement can preserve cognitive function as we age. Spirituality is often experienced outside the context of organized religion and may be part of every religion or separate to it.
According to the team, spiritual fitness is a new dimension in AD prevention, interweaving basic, psychological and spiritual wellbeing.
The researchers discuss the research on how these factors affect brain function and cognition.
For example, psychological wellbeing may reduce inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and disability.
Importantly, individuals who have a high score on a “purpose in life” (PIL) measure, a component of psychological wellbeing, were 2.4 times more likely to remain free of AD than individuals with low PIL.
In another study, participants who reported higher levels of PIL exhibited better cognitive function, and further, PIL protected those with already existing pathological conditions, thus slowing their decline.
Stress and stress management are under-discussed topics in AD prevention, yet the authors point out that there is ample evidence that physical, psychological, and emotional effects of stress may elevate AD risk.
Kirtan Kriya (KK) is a 12-minute singing meditation that involves four sounds, breathing, and repetitive finger movements.
It has multiple documented effects on stress, such as improving sleep, decreasing depression, and increasing wellbeing.
It has also been found to increase blood flow to areas of the brain involved in cognition and emotional regulation and increases gray matter volume and decrease the ventricular size in long-term practitioners, which may slow brain aging.
Research in healthy individuals, caregivers, and those with cognitive decline found that the practice improves cognition, slows memory loss, and improves mood.
The team says mitigating the extensive negative biochemical effects of stress with meditation practices, in tandem with the creation of heightened levels of spiritual fitness, may help lower the risk of AD.
Small shifts in one’s daily routine can make all the difference in AD prevention.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about right under your nose: An easier way to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and findings of this sleep pattern linked to high risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
For more information about Alzheimer’s disease treatment and prevention, please see recent studies about this new drug could reverse Alzheimer’s-like memory loss and results showing that this common type of drug linked to higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
The study is published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. One author of the study is Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD.
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