Mindfulness May Be a Window Into Brain Health in Early Alzheimer’s Risk

A new study published in the journal Mindfulness has found that older adults with early signs of cognitive impairment show reduced levels of dispositional mindfulness, and that this decline may be linked to changes in brain connectivity. Specifically, the researchers identified weaker functional connections in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, a brain region involved in emotional regulation, as a predictor of lower mindfulness in individuals with mild cognitive impairment. The study was conducted to better understand how mindfulness traits change in the early stages of cognitive decline, before a diagnosis of dementia is made.