Written by Siddharth Karthikeya | Edited by Amanda Fang
Photo by Pixabay
Ever wonder how the simple act of meditation can transform your brain function? Emerging clinical research is pointing us towards meditation as a solution for maintaining your brain health.
You may ask: why do we need a healthy brain? Well, a healthy brain is necessary for daily activities, and a lapse in brain function can lead to inefficient performance in several realms of life including problem-solving, memory, and energy levels.
In today’s world, especially with the prevalence of technology in almost every space, there is an attack being made on the brain. The associated drawbacks of technology contribute to a decrease in sleep quality, memory loss, and its triggering of mental health issues, and these issues are becoming too common for comfort [1]. To best mitigate further damage, meditation may present itself as a promising solution to counteract these attacks and reclaim one’s mental well-being.
An important benefit of mindfulness is its ability to enhance one’s overall quality of life, especially considering that Americans’ average stress has increased over the years to the point where it is at an all-time high [2]. This is supported by a 2014 study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences where participants engaged in several types of mindfulness training, including lectures, discussions, meditations, and physical exercise [3]. Over time, those who engaged in this training exhibited significant improvements in attention, memory, processing speed, and overall brain function compared to those who did not undergo mindfulness training, suggesting the remarkable potential for mindfulness to optimize brain function and to assist daily tasks, ultimately enhancing quality of life.
Mindfulness also harbors promise in supplementing and potentially being individually prescribed for the management of mental health issues. In a 2023 study published in JAMA, adults with anxiety disorders were tasked with mindfulness exercises to help monitor improvements in their condition [4]. On average, of the 430 individuals who participated, anxiety test (CGI-S) scores demonstrated a 37.5% reduction in feelings of anxiety over the course of just six months of treatment. This impact is the kind of promise that mindfulness holds, painting a bright future where answers to mental health are not restricted to medications. Analyses of the study compared patient condition improvement to that of patients who routinely took a prescription strength drug for anxiety (Lexapro) and found that mindfulness was equally effective to Lexapro in reducing feelings of anxiety in patients presenting with generalized anxiety disorder [5]. Embracing mindfulness as a primary or adjunctive therapeutic tool holds immense promise for enhancing patient outcomes and revolutionizing mental health care practices.
The future implications of mindfulness in healthcare is profound. There is promising potential for a shift away from drug-centered treatment approaches and a shift towards mindfulness for mental health. As shown by current research, mindfulness protocols have been efficient alone and when compared to existing drug treatments, serving as a call to action for further clinical research to be done on the brain, mental health, and mindfulness. As we look forward to the future of medicine, promoting mindfulness as a viable treatment option can pave the way for a more holistic and patient-centered approach to mental health care.
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