Spiritual Fitness: The Cognitive Benefits of Training the Mind

A study recently published by the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease found connections between emphasizing spiritual wellbeing and prevention of the development of cognitive degenerative diseases. This is a relatively new concept in the field of medicine, however, mindfulness is practiced around the world in many different forms and practices. The purpose of studies such as these is to instill habits that perpetuate spiritual wellbeing and as a result, a lifestyle that reflects positively on our minds.

Findings on spiritual fitness suggest, "that religious and spiritual involvement can preserve cognitive function as we age." [1] Although religious involvement is not as prevalent as it used to be, people can still practice spirituality in acts of of introspection, meditation and even forms of active stretching such as yoga. With so many possibilities for practices in mindfulness, the question comes down to how we apply these to our current daily lives to prevent cognitive impairments.

These measures of prevention are in direct relationships to how we as people deal with stress, and how stress affects our brains and can cause diseases like Alzheimer's down the road if left untreated. Practicing mindfulness has been shown to be especially effective at stress reduction, as well as with increasing a person's personal belief in their reasons for existing, a recent measurement in medicine to determine a person's general outlook on their lives.

Sources:

[1] IOS Press. "Meditative practice and spiritual wellbeing may preserve cognitive function in aging." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 11 May 2021.