Experts find new way of improving older adults' quality of life

Jul 24, 2012 16:02 GMT  ·  By

Studies conducted in the past demonstrated that old people who feel lonely are more likely to develop health conditions including cardiovascular diseases and dementia. Now, scientists show that practicing mindfulness meditation is a simple method of reducing these risks.

As made obvious over the past few decades, social networking programs targeted at seniors have not been particularly effective.

Maybe it's time for a new approach, scientists at the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) argue in a new study. They say meditation may succeed where other approaches failed, Science Blog reports.

“We know that loneliness is a major risk factor for health problems and mortality in older adults. This research suggests that mindfulness meditation training is a promising intervention for improving the health of older adults,” says CMU expert J. David Creswell.