scholarly journals Default Mode Network, Meditation, and Age-Associated Brain Changes: What Can We Learn from the Impact of Mental Training on Well-Being as a Psychotherapeutic Approach?

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Ramírez-Barrantes ◽  
Marcelo Arancibia ◽  
Jana Stojanova ◽  
Mauricio Aspé-Sánchez ◽  
Claudio Córdova ◽  
...  

Aging is a physiological process accompanied by cognitive decline, principally in memory and executive functions. Alterations in the connectivity of the default mode network (DMN) have been found to participate in cognitive decline, as well as in several neurocognitive disorders. The DMN has antisynchronic activity with attentional networks (task-positive networks (TPN)), which are critical to executive function and memory. Findings pointing to the regulation of the DMN via activation of TPN suggest that it can be used as a strategy for neuroprotection. Meditation is a noninvasive and nonpharmacological technique proven to increase meta-awareness, a cognitive ability which involves the control of both networks. In this review, we discuss the possibility of facilitating healthy aging through the regulation of networks through meditation. We propose that by practicing specific types of meditation, cognitive decline could be slowed, promoting a healthy lifestyle, which may enhance the quality of life for the elderly.

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman S. Alharbi ◽  
Andrew P. Smith

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of being away from home on the well-being of international and domestic UK university students as a function of demographic factors, course load, support, personality, healthy lifestyle, and their employment of pre-planning and being at university strategies. A total of 510 students (n = 391 international and 117 British) completed an on-line survey to record demographic details and measure their well-being, quality of university life, and their being away from home strategies. The findings showed that International students reported greater quality of university life and used more pre-departure strategies; the female students reported a significantly more negative well-being and higher course demand than their male peers. A regression analysis showed that positive well-being was predicted by a positive personality, a healthy lifestyle, control and support for academic work, quality of university life and employing well-being strategies (using technology without over-reliance on it and the ability to unwind from study). Negative well-being, on the other hand, was predicted by a less positive personality and a less healthy lifestyle, a higher course demand, less control and support for academic work and less quality of university life. Moreover, the regression analysis showed that international students who employed more pre-departure strategies showed less negative well-being.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 4337
Author(s):  
Neri Maria Cristina ◽  
d’Alba Lucia

Nutritional well-being is a fundamental aspect for the health, autonomy and, therefore, the quality of life of all people, but especially of the elderly. It is estimated that at least half of non-institutionalized elderly people need nutritional intervention to improve their health and that 85% have one or more chronic diseases that could improve with correct nutrition. Although prevalence estimates are highly variable, depending on the population considered and the tool used for its assessment, malnutrition in the elderly has been reported up to 50%. Older patients are particularly at risk of malnutrition, due to multiple etiopathogenetic factors which can lead to a reduction or utilization in the intake of nutrients, a progressive loss of functional autonomy with dependence on food, and psychological problems related to economic or social isolation, e.g., linked to poverty or loneliness. Changes in the aging gut involve the mechanical disintegration of food, gastrointestinal motor function, food transit, intestinal wall function, and chemical digestion of food. These alterations progressively lead to the reduced ability to supply the body with adequate levels of nutrients, with the consequent development of malnutrition. Furthermore, studies have shown that the quality of life is impaired both in gastrointestinal diseases, but especially in malnutrition. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of malnutrition in elderly people is necessary to promote the knowledge of age-related changes in appetite, food intake, homeostasis, and body composition in order to better develop effective prevention and intervention strategies to achieve healthy aging.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 154
Author(s):  
Lidia Domínguez-Parraga

This study aims to analyze the consequences of the gentrification process as a result of tourism on the elderly inhabitants. Firstly, the concept of gentrification is reviewed, a process that is no longer exclusive to large cities but has spread to smaller and lesser-known municipalities. A clear example of this type of new tourist destination is the city of Cáceres, a World Heritage medium-sized city where tourism is the basis of its economy. The research considers gentrification in medium-sized cities and its effect on active aging. Based on a qualitative methodological approach, a total of 32 in-depth interviews were conducted and analyzed to compare two neighborhoods—one gentrified and one not. The results show a remarkable disparity in the residents’ perceptions of their environment and their city. The findings suggest adverse effects on the quality of aging due to the gentrification process, such as family dependency, social-space disconnection, and a generally pessimistic image of the neighborhood. Consequently, the impact of tourism negatively affects the gentrified neighborhood inhabitants’ psychological, social, and emotional well-being.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Miguel Rondón García ◽  
Jose Manuel Ramírez Navarrro

Background. This research analyzes the impact of quality of life as a metavariable that conditions the health and social welfare of the elderly. The sample of this study is composed of 500 people, randomly selected from the major day centers for the elderly in the province of Granada (Spain).Method. For the inferential analysis, we used the CUBRECAVI questionnaire, which is a multidimensional scale of health and quality of life, along with the Katz and García measure questionnaires, which are also applied to quality of life. Through the technique of the interview, we have distributed the participants into two groups: experimental and control.Results and Conclusions. Once the tests have been completed, we have concluded from the meta-analysis and validation tests that the participants have a good perception of their quality of life, considering health, leisure, environmental quality, functional capacity, level of satisfaction, social support, social networks, and positive social interactions as the determinants of their well-being, although social contact reduces as the age advances. We conclude that multidimensional evaluation is an effective tool to evaluate the quality of life and the objective and subjective health of the elderly. These variables can be related to the improvement of health and well-being.


Author(s):  
Kim Aikens ◽  
Shauna Shapiro

This chapter discusses mindfulness as it applies to integrative preventive medicine. Defining mindfulness as the awareness that arises through intentionally attending in an open, caring, and discerning way, the chapter proposes three core mindfulness elements: intention, attention, and attitude. It explores the potential application of mindfulness to primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. The chapter looks at the impact of mindfulness on health promotion and examines mindfulness as a secondary prevention strategy, particularly in hypertension and diabetes. It then addresses tertiary prevention and the impact of mindfulness in chronic disease. Lastly, mindfulness as a preventive strategy for psychological well-being is explored. Overall, there is strong evidence suggesting that mindfulness is positively associated with healthy lifestyle as well as improvements in depressive symptoms, stress, anxiety, quality of life, physical outcomes, and positive psychological health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-85
Author(s):  
A.A. Izvolskaya

The article is devoted to the review of foreign studies on the impact of cochlear implantation on the quality of life of persons with hearing impairment. The results of the work of American, Australian, Italian, Romanian, Israeli scientists indicate a significant improvement in auditory perception after cochlear implant surgery, which has the most positive impact on the quality of life of patients of different ages (children, adolescents, adults, the elderly). The article also considers additional parameters that affect the quality of life, such as the possibility of participation in social life, financial well-being, psychological characteristics (attitude to oneself and one’s impairment, anxiety, ability to protect one’s interests), etc.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (18) ◽  
pp. 25-33
Author(s):  
Esther Lizbeth Islas-Cruz

Introduction: The increase in the Elderly population as the main characteristic of the demographic transition brings with it multiple challenges for public health. As part of the public politics of the World Health Organization (WHO) on healthy aging, Physical Activity (PA) is relevant, being the subject of multiple studies about its benefits on the quality of life of older people. The adoption of a healthy lifestyle at an early age and even in old age, which includes PA, favors the quality of life of the subjects and a healthy aging. Method: This article is a systematic review of the Pubmed, Google Schoolar, Elsevier, Scielo and Redalyc index. Using the keywords, 132 related articles were found, however, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 120 articles were discarded, leaving 12 studies for review. Results: 72% of the studies showed benefits at a physical level: PA in old age improves strength, balance, flexibility and muscle tone. It is also related to a significant reduction in arterial stiffness. 11% of the investigations refer to improvements in the psychoemotional sphere: PA generates positive feelings such as happiness or good self-perception. And 17% of the articles focused on quality of life: PA favors the perception of better quality of life. Conclusion: Physical activity improves health in the physical, mental and social spheres of older adults, improving their quality of life and promoting healthy aging.


Author(s):  
Daniela Ponciano ◽  
Fernanda Bogarim Borin Chiacchio ◽  
Gisele Alves Rodrigues ◽  
Daniely de Sousa Prado ◽  
Deusimar Noleto Soares ◽  
...  

Universities for the elderly are places focused on learning, well-being, and quality of life of the elderly which ensures healthier aging. Objective: To describe the contributions of universities of  the elderly to the healthy aging of their participants. Methodology: The work is characterized as bibliographic research. Regarding inclusion criteria, the bibliographic study included national journals on the theme, of the free access databases SCIELO and LILACS from 2008 to 2018. Results: Social experiences in universities promote the elderly a pleasurable old age, with socialization, the maintenance of friendships, self-knowledge, self-esteem, learning, the satisfaction of living. All this helps in coping with crises and losses of this phase and enables successful aging. Final considerations: given what was raised, it is concluded that the participation of the elderly in a university for the elderly contributes positively to a better quality of life in the aging process. This is because these sites offer the elderly the opportunity to live in a pleasurable and healthier way, as well as favors in maintaining biopsychosocial well-being.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana da Conceição Sampaio Lóss ◽  
Cristina de Fátima de Oliveira Brum Augusto de Souza ◽  
Rosalee Santos Crespo Istoe

Introduction: Neuroscience is an area of knowledge that has been an important ally in the study, prevention and understanding of brain mechanisms and their influence on neurodegenerative diseases. In this tuning fork, the neuroscience of aging is concerned with studying important aspects in the life of the elderly, so that it becomes valuable to study the determinants of healthy aging. The present study aims to understand the aspects that involve healthy aging and how neuroscience can beneficially influence the aging process. Method: This research is a bibliographic review, of a qualitative nature, where the analysis of articles and authors was sought in the Scielo, Pubmed, Redalic databases. The study is justified because population aging is a reality where there is a forecast that, in 2025, Brazil will be the sixth country in the world in population of people over 60 years of age. Results: Through this study it was possible to understand that the determinants of health in aging are related to important factors such as the presence of diabetes, high blood pressure, the practice of regular physical activities, mental illness, healthy lifestyle, social interaction, leisure, and volunteer work. Conclusion: Neuroscience demonstrates relevant advances, as it considers the brain’s ability to restructure, recover damaged parts, develop and create new connections in aging. Knowing these factors can mean a long-term and quality- of-life future for the elderly with the prevention of diseases present in this phase of life.


Author(s):  
Visweswara Rao Guthi ◽  
Tirupati Venkata Devi Prathyusha ◽  
Nagaraj Kondagunta ◽  
Nakkala Kavyasree ◽  
Chimmata Kavitha ◽  
...  

Background: Healthy aging is a process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well- being in older age. Objective of the present study is to assess the quality of life among elderly population using WHOQOL-BREF scale and to determine the association between socio demographic factors and quality of life.Methods: Community based cross- sectional study was conducted in the urban field practice areas of SVIMS-Sri Padmavathi Medical College for women, Tirupati for a period of one month (February 2019 to March 2019). Study population were Elderly of age 60 years and above. Total 60 elderly were included in the study. Quality of life was assessed using WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire.Results: Most of the study population was in the age group of 60-64 years, Most of them were females (71.7%). More than one third were illiterates (36.7%), 30% were studied up to primary school. 93.3% of study population were suffered from some form of illness. Mean total transformed score was high among ≥70 years compared to <70 years, Males were showing high mean total transformed score compared to females, literates were showing high score and persons with illness were showing high scores and persons without illness.Conclusions: It is concluded from this study that most of the elderly population are suffered from some form of illness. Overall quality of life is good among elderly within 70 years of age, males, literates and who are in living as married compared to their counter parts.


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