Effects of mindfulness training on sustained attention and mind-wandering in older adults: results from the HealthyAgers randomized controlled trial

Megan Fisher, Madhura Phansikar, James Teng, Nathan McPherson, Elizabeth Duraney, Michael McKenna, Anita Shankar, Courtney Blau, Rosie Canter, Christine Roberts, Stephanie Aghamoosa, Kathy Wright, Rebecca Andridge and Ruchika S Prakash

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2026, vol. 81, issue 2, gbaf235.

Abstract: ObjectivesOlder adults exhibit age-related declines in processes of attentional control, demonstrating an emergent need to identify mind-body interventions that support healthy cognitive aging. Mindfulness training is a promising intervention for improving attentional control processes, but relatively few methodologically rigorous studies have examined whether these effects extend to older adults.MethodsThis pre-registered Stage II randomized controlled trial (RCT) of older adults (N = 150), aged 65–85 years, examined the effects of eight weeks of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) versus an active control training program on immediate and long-term metrics of attentional control.ResultsCompared with the active control, MBSR did not differentially improve most metrics of sustained attention or mind-wandering, although a small effect was observed for self-reported task-unrelated thoughts. Improvements were observed in Go/No-Go (GNG) dL over time. Additionally, Groups differed on the GNG reaction time coefficient of variability and the Conners Continuous Performance Test d′ and reaction time variability.DiscussionOur findings suggest that mindfulness training compared to an active control may not differentially enhance attentional control among older adults.

Keywords: Mindfulness-based stress reduction; Attentional control; Connectome-based predictive modeling; Functional magnetic resonance imaging (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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