Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness, and longevity: An experimental study with the elderly.

Practicing the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program may improve cognitive function, mental health, and blood pressure in elderly adults, while also increasing survival rates. In a study of 73 residents of homes for the elderly (average age 81), those randomly assigned to TM showed the greatest improvement in learning, cognitive flexibility, mental health, systolic blood pressure, and ratings of behavior and aging, compared to mindfulness training, relaxation, or no treatment. The mindfulness group improved most on perceived control and word fluency. After three years, survival was 100% for the TM group and 87.5% for mindfulness, versus lower rates in the other groups.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Can direct change in state of consciousness through specific mental techniques extend human life and reverse age-related declines? To address this question, 73 residents of 8 homes for the elderly (mean age = 81 years) were randomly assigned among no treatment and 3 treatments highly similar in external structure and expectations: the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program, mindfulness training (MF) in active distinction making, or a relaxation (low mindfulness) program. A planned comparison indicated that the "restful alert" TM group improved most, followed by MF, in contrast to relaxation and no-treatment groups, on paired associate learning; 2 measures of cognitive flexibility; mental health; systolic blood pressure; and ratings of behavioral flexibility, aging, and treatment efficacy. The MF group improved most, followed by TM, on perceived control and word fluency. After 3 years, survival rate was 100% for TM and 87.5% for MF in contrast to lower rates for other groups.