Could Meditation or Listening to Music Slow Cognitive Decline?

A recent study found that Kirtan Kriva meditation (KK) and music listening improved memory and cognitive performance in older adults with subjective cognitive decline, indicating that mind-body interventions may be an effective method for slowing or preventing cognitive decline, a predictor of Alzheimer disease.

For their study, researchers performed a randomized trial to assess the effects of KK meditation—a simple, home-based mind-body therapy—and music listening on cognitive performance and memory in older adults with subjective cognitive decline. The study included 60 participants randomly assigned to either practice KK meditation or listen to music for 12 minutes a day for 3 months. Participants continued to practice meditation or listen to music at their discretion for another 3 months.
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Memory and cognitive function were measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months using the Memory Functioning Questionnaire (MFQ), Trail-making Test (TMT), and Digit-Symbol Substitution Test (DSST).

Overall, 53 participants completed the entire 6-month study. Participants completed an average of 93% of sessions at 3 months, and 71% of sessions during the 3-month practice-optional follow-up period.

At 3 months, both music listening and KK meditation groups showed significant improvement in memory and cognitive performance. “At 6 months, overall gains were maintained or improved (p’s ≤ 0.006), with effect sizes ranging from medium (DSST, [music listening] group) to large (DSST, KK group; TMT-A/B, MFQ),” the researchers stated.

Participants showed similar improvement from music listening or KK mediation, regardless of baseline cognitive score, age, or gender.

“Findings of this preliminary randomized controlled trial suggest practice of meditation or [music listening] can significantly enhance both subjective memory function and objective cognitive performance in adults with [subjective cognitive decline], and may offer promise for improving outcomes in this population,” the researchers concluded.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Innes KE, Selfe TK, Khalsa DS, and Kandati S. Meditation and music improve memory and cognitive function in adults with subjective cognitive decline: a pilot randomized controlled trial [published online January 18, 2017]. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. doi:10.3233/JAD-160867.