KINGSTON, R.I.\u00ad\u2013 March 29, 2024 \u2013 If you\u2019ve ever stopped your thoughts from wandering during a conversation or taken a deep breath before a high-stakes moment, you\u2019ve already used mindfulness in your daily life to improve focus, keep calm, or engage more fully in the task at hand. However, research shows that adopting a regular mindfulness practice can have long-term benefits to the brain as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These brain benefits are the topic of the 2024 Malford Thewlis Lecture on Gerontology and Geriatrics, \u201cMind Matters: Exploring the Impact of Mindfulness on the Aging Brain<\/a>,\u201d featuring Ruchika Prakash, director of the Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging at The Ohio State University. The lecture will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 3, at 7 p.m. The event is free, but registration is requested<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prakash is known for her research on the role of mindfulness in cognition, emotional regulation, and brain health. In this talk, she will share new insights on ways that mindfulness meditation can help support the aging brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMindfulness has gotten a lot of attention recently for its positive effects on mind and body,\u201d said 溏心vlog免费B站 Professor of Gerontology Phillip Clark, director of the 溏心vlog免费B站 program in Gerontology and the Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center<\/a>. \u201cWe chose this year\u2019s lecture topic because we wanted to highlight the connections between aging and brain health, a growing concern for many people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Prakash, mindfulness can be defined as \u201cthe bare registering of facts\u201d with an attitude of non-judgement and acceptance. Her work has included developing mindfulness techniques that can enhance cognitive control and neural circuitry. While some mindfulness meditation practices are particularly beneficial for older adults, others are shown to be effective in mid-life to help protect against cognitive decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n