An interesting study of the cognitive benefits of meditation is worth considering. I found that when Alzheimer’s patients became involved in an art activity, their breathing became much quieter, they are less agitated, and patients who need to talk all the time, became more silent. All of these seem similar to the meditative state. For me it was no more than anecdotal observation, but I often thought it would be worth putting this to some objective scientific study. John Varghese, author of BACE, suggests that “in the patient’s struggle to communicate through these images, new neuronal connections may be formed and could be therapeutic – stimulating greater retrieval capability in the brain.” Definitely worth investigation.
Ruth Abraham: When Words Have Lost Their Meaning: Alzheimer’s Patients Communicate Through Art, Greenwood Press 2005
