Care Management ~ Eldercare Advocacy ~ Dementia Care

From ancient times, many have found the act of meditation to be beneficial to the total well being of the individual. With spiritual and mental wellness, bodily wellness would follow. Recently, Doctor Dharma Singh Khalsa, the President and Medical Director of the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation, published an article in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that explores the benefits of adding meditation to strategies designed to slow down the mental decline of those at risk or currently suffering with Alzheimer’s.

The chronic stress common in modern society lends itself to the degeneration of the mind. As pharmaceutical solutions designed to prevent and stop Alzheimer’s Disease have been slow to develop, it is important to treat the body in the methods that are available in order to maintain optimal health. Along with nutrition, sleep, and lack of physical well being, high levels of stress have been shown to contribute to Alzheimer’s development.

The aim of meditation is not to blank the mind, but to focus on relaxing it. If you are new to meditation, start with 10 to 20 minutes a day with this easy to follow, four step process:

• 1. Comfort: Sit comfortably in a chair or on the floor.

• 2. Quiet: Go somewhere to be alone with no interruptions (no phones, etc).

• 3. Tool: Concentrate on a word, thought, breathing, sound, or short prayer.

• 4. Focus: When other thoughts interrupt, re-focus on your tool.

If you suspect yourself or a loved one to be at risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease, please see your health practitioner. They can help you formulate a strategy to maintain your cognition or recommend a specialist to help.

Take a look at the article published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, “Stress, Meditation, and Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention: Where The Evidence Stands”. It’s a comprehensive look at the factors of lifestyle and stress in contributing to Alzheimer’s Disease,  and the effects of meditation on its prevention.

Judie Rappaport, President & Founder
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