Seniors’ Mindfulness Surge
- Mass General Brigham researchers reported on April 24 that complementary health approaches are common among older adults in the COSMOS trial, with most participants saying they had used at least one. - The survey covered 16,144 adults; 58.8% reported using at least one complementary approach in the past 12 months, and 76.4% said they had used one over their lifetime. - The paper lands as U.S. use of yoga, meditation and chiropractic care has risen over time, with older-adult use now drawing more clinical scrutiny. (cdc.gov)
Complementary health approaches are no longer niche for many older Americans, according to a new Mass General Brigham study drawn from the COSMOS trial. (massgeneralbrigham.org) The researchers surveyed 16,144 participants in COSMOS, a large randomized clinical trial that enrolled women 65 and older and men 60 and older. They reported that 58.8% had used at least one complementary approach in the past year and 76.4% had used one in their lifetime. (massgeneralbrigham.org) (sciencedirect.com) The paper, published in The American Journal of Medicine, grouped these approaches into manual therapies, mind-body therapies, herbal products, acupuncture, spiritual practices, and cannabis or psychedelics. The study did not measure how often people used them, why they used them, or whether they worked. (amjmed.com) (massgeneralbrigham.org) In plain terms, these are treatments people use alongside standard medical care, from yoga and tai chi to acupuncture and herbal products. The National Center for Health Statistics has separately documented rising U.S. use of yoga, meditation and chiropractic care over the past decade. (cdc.gov) Lead author Dennis Muñoz-Vergara said the findings show these therapies are part of routine health and wellness for many older adults, even when they are not discussed with clinicians. The Mass General Brigham team said that gap leaves doctors and patients with less room to weigh risks, benefits and possible interactions. (massgeneralbrigham.org) (news-medical.net) The authors also cautioned that COSMOS is not a perfect snapshot of the whole U.S. senior population. Participants were already enrolled in a supplement trial and were likely healthier, more health-engaged, and wealthier than older adults overall. (massgeneralbrigham.org) That caveat matters because the study is measuring prevalence, not proof. A 2023 meta-analysis in The Journals of Gerontology found mixed evidence on whether mindfulness interventions improve cognition in older adults, even as the programs appeared feasible and acceptable. (academic.oup.com) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) The new paper adds one clear point: older adults are already using these therapies at scale. The next question for clinicians is whether those conversations move into the exam room. (massgeneralbrigham.org)
