Alzheimer's Research & Prevention Foundation

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ARPF Research

As part of our commitment to helping individuals maximize brain health and prevent Alzheimer's disease, regardless of age or stage of life, the ARPF has spearheaded extensive clinical research examining the effects of meditation on memory and cognitive function. This research has been conducted in collaboration with some of the nation's leading academic centers, such as the University of Pennsylvania and UCLA, and published in prestigious peer-reviewed journals.

Research Centers
The ARPF has conducted years of research with eminent partners, such as:
1. UCLA-Department of Psychiatry
2. University of Pennsylvania-Department of Radiology, and
3. University of California

The specific meditation that the ARPF is investigating is called Kirtan Kriya - a practice of the Kundalini yoga tradition. This practice holds tremendous potential to bolster the effects of medication and other strategies used to slow or prevent Alzheimer's disease. The foundation believes it may even hold the potential to reverse memory loss.

Learn more about the meaning and practice of Kirtan Kriya

Research Findings

Our decade of research has demonstrated the impact of meditation on the brain. Following are highlights from some of our recent and ongoing research, the most significant being the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

"Effects of an 8-week meditation program on mood and anxiety in patients with memory loss."
A new paper about ARPF research was published by the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in January 2012. This paper was prepared as an extension of the previous study, which revealed that Kirtan Kriya increased brain activity in important anatomical areas, as well as an improvement in memory tests. A special brain scan called SPECT was used to measure the results.

The primary purpose of this paper is to report the effects of performing Kirtan Kriya meditation daily for 8 weeks on mood, feelings of spirituality, and how these changes relate to increases in brain blood flow. The results disclosed a large improvement in mood, anxiety, tension and fatigue. Moreover, there were significant improvements in the brain's emotional areas. 12 minutes a day of KK will improve memory and boost emotions.

Read more about this study.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY

"A pilot study of yogic meditation for family dementia caregivers with depressive symptoms: Effects on mental health, cognition, and telomerase activity."
In a groundbreaking study completed in January 2011, and published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, in collaboration with UCLA, we investigated the effects of meditation in caregivers of people with dementia. Results indicate that, compared to study participants who listened to relaxation tapes daily for eight weeks, those who practiced Kirtan Kriya improved significantly in measures of perceived support, physical suffering, energy, emotional well-being, cognitive tests of memory and executive function. Beyond that, this study revealed that Kirtan Kriya increased telomerase, an exquisite bio marker of health and longevity. In this study, we showed that mood, spirituality, and well-being; all markers of improved memory health and longevity, can be increased by Kirtan Kriya in only 12 minutes a day for 12 weeks.

Read more about this study.

PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH:NEUROIMAGING

"Cerebral blood flow changes associated with different meditation practices and perceived depth of meditation."
In the January 2011 issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, another ground-breaking study was published. It revealed that different meditation practices actually changed brain blood flow in different brain areas. It was also the first study to show that there are blood flow changes correlated with the personal experience of the practitioner. This study highlighted that this practice can be used as meditation as medicine. This means that the study showed that different techniques may be prescribed for separate health conditions, from trauma to depression, to anxiety or depression.

JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

"Meditation Effects on Cognitive Function and Cerebral Blood Flow In Subjects with Memory Loss: A Preliminary Study"
The foundation conducted the first-ever study on the impact of meditation on people with memory loss, which was published in 2010 in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. The study found that Kirtan Kriya, performed 12 minutes a day for eight weeks, increased brain activity in areas central to memory and improved cognition and wellbeing in patients with memory loss.

Read more about this study.

COUNSCIOUSNESS AND COGNITION

"Cerebral blood flow differences between long-term meditators and non-meditators""
In the December 2010 issue of Consciousness and Cognition, a study was published comparing cerebral blood flow (CBF) in 12 advanced meditators with that of 14 non-meditators. The study findings support the notion that long-term meditation is associated with higher activity in the frontal areas of the brain, which help mediate attention, emotions and memory.

Read the full study.

JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE COMMUNICATIONS

"Cerebral blood flow changes during chanting meditation"
Another study, which was published in 2009 in the journal Nuclear Medicine Communications, examined 11 healthy individuals in both a resting and meditative state. The study found that Kirtan Kriya causes significant increases in brain activity especially in the posterior cingulate gyrus (PCG) compared to baseline. Both of these areas of the brain are central to memory. The PCG is a critically important anatomical area, because it is the first part of the brain to decrease in function when a person develops Alzheimer's disease. Perhaps it's possible, therefore, that if everyone did Kirtan Kriya and activated their PCG on a regular basis, the number of people who develop Alzheimer's would diminish.

Read the full study.

All ARPF programs, including this innovative research, are made possible by generous contributions by people like you. Without your support, we would not be able to continue our mission of providing the best research and education on an integrative approach to preventing Alzheimer's disease.

The Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation is a charitable organization registered under s.496.411(3), F.S. A copy of the official registration may be obtained from the division of consumer affairs by calling 1-800-435-7352 Toll-Free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. ARPF's registration number in Florida is CH-31726.

Important Notice:
ARPF does not provide medical advice nor promote any product or service. The contents are for informational purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek advice from a qualified physician or health care professional about any medical concern, and do not disregard professional medical advice because of anything you may read on this web site. The ARPF, its affiliates or agents, or any other parties involved in the preparation or publication of this site are not responsible for errors or omissions in information provided on this site or any actions resulting from the use of such information.