Meditation slows age-related loss of gray matter in the brain Bashny.Net

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles established the link between meditation classes and the amount of gray matter in the brain. By analyzing the group of 100 people was found that inhibits the natural process of meditation age reduction of gray matter.

Gray matter - the main component of our nervous system, it is there are neurons. It is known that from about 25-30 years, the volume of the brain as a whole and the number of gray matter in particular begins to decrease. Over the past 40 years, life expectancy has increased by more than 10 years, but the increase in the number of diseases associated with degradation of the nervous system.

Says the study's lead author, Dr. Eileen Luders, "In this regard, it is important that the increase in life expectancy did not occur at the expense of deterioration of its quality. Many studies have focused on factors that increase the risk of mental disorders and neurodegeneration, but few turns to the approaches aimed at improving the health of the brain ».

The study involved 100 people, 50 of which are engaged in meditation for over 4 years and the other half - was not involved at all. The age of participants ranged from 24 to 77 years. Obtained by means of MRI data showed a clear inverse relationship to the amount of gray matter in the age of all participants. However, the average data show that the decrease in the amount of the substance of those who engaged in meditation, is slower.



Scientists considered surprising that the effect is not only pronounced on the averaged chart, but also noticeable in the pictures - the difference in the gray matter of the state is in all the regions of the brain. Lueders hoped that the results of this study to coerce other teams such experiments, which ultimately can help people improve their health and maintain it throughout their lives.

Various studies have established a positive effect on the body from regular meditation. Exercises for meditation known for thousands of years, and are included in the arsenal of almost all the world's religions. They are primarily aimed at calming consciousness, which should lead to improvement of both the spirit and the body. You can meditate sitting, lying, standing and on the move. For the concentration of consciousness using internal sensations, images, or external objects or phenomena. The most famous pose for meditation: sitting, eyes closed, back straight, head slightly lowered, legs crossed, hands on his knees with his hands up, palms open, thumbs and index fingers are connected.

Source: geektimes.ru/post/245584/