Mind-Body Exercises May Improve Cognition in Older Adults

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found mind-body exercises can improve global cognition, cognitive flexibility, working memory, verbal fluency, and learning in older adults, reports News-Medical . The meta-analysis included 32 randomized controlled trials with 3,624 older adults with or without cognitive impairment. The researchers said mind-body exercise, as a therapy that combines mental concentration, breathing control, and body movement, is beneficial for improving flexibility and mental health, but no previous studies have assessed the effects of all major forms of mind-body exercise in a single investigation.