Table 1.

Brief summaries of reviewed studies categorized by outcome (attentional control, psychological well-being, and inflammatory processes).

References	Titles	Study type	Population	Intervention group	Comparison group	At-home practice	Dependent variables	Main findings
ATTENTIONAL CONTROL: BEHAVIORAL AND NEURAL FUNCTIONING
Prakash et al., 2012b	Mindfulness disposition and default-mode network connectivity in older adults	Correlational	Older adults (n = 25, mean age = 66)	n/a	n/a	n/a	Resting-state default-mode network connectivity	Trait mindfulness is associated with greater connectivity in the dorsal posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus, regions of the default-mode network.
Fiocco and Mallya, 2015	The importance of cultivating mindfulness for cognitive and emotional well-being in late life	Correlational	Older adults (n = 73, mean age = 69)	n/a	none	n/a	Set-shifting (trail making test A & B), verbal fluency (controlled oral word association task), declarative memory (california verbal learning test).	Trait mindfulness is positively associated with set-shifting, but not verbal fluency or declarative memory.
Prakash et al., 2015	The role of emotion regulation and cognitive control in the association between mindfulness disposition and stress	Correlational	Older adults (n = 48, mean age = 65)	n/a	Young adults (n = 50, mean age = 24)	n/a	Inhibitory control (flanker task), working memory (N-back task), set-shifting (Task-switching paradigm)	Trait mindfulness is not significantly associated with inhibitory control, working memory, or set-shifting in older adults.
Pagnoni and Cekic, 2007	Age effects on gray matter volume and attentional performance in zen meditation	Cross-sectional comparison	Adult meditators (n = 13, mean age = 37, meditation experience = >3 years daily)	n/a	Older-adult non-meditators (n = 13 mean age = 36)	n/a	Sustained attention (rapid visual information processing task)	Meditators did not show a significant negative correlation between gray matter volume and attentional performance with age, as observed in controls.
van Leeuwen et al., 2009	Age effects on attentional blink performance in meditation	Cross-sectional comparison	Older-adult meditators (n = 17, mean age = 50, meditation experience = 1-20 years)	n/a	Older-adult non-meditators (n = 17, mean age = 50), young-adult non-meditators (n = 17, mean age = 24)	n/a	Temporal capacity of attention (attentional blink task)	Older-adult meditators showed a smaller attentional blink than age-matched and young-adult non-meditators.
Prakash et al., 2012a	Long-term concentrative meditation and cognitive performance among older adults	Cross-sectional comparison	Older-adult meditators (n = 20, mean age = 59, meditation experience = >10 years)	n/a	Older-adult non-meditators (n = 20, mean age = 60)	n/a	Working memory (digit span), response inhibition (stroop color word task), processing speed (letter cancelation, digit symbol substitution), set-shifting Ttrail making test, rule shift card test	Older-adult meditators performed better than age-matched non-meditators on all tests of attention except the digit span backwards test.
Lenze et al., 2014	Mindfulness-based stress reduction for older adults with worry symptoms and co-occuring cognitive dysfunction	Feasbility	Older adults with clinically significnat anxiety and cognitive dysfunction (n = 34, mean age = 71)	8-week MBSR: 2.5-h weekly meetings and a 1-day retreat (n = 16, mean age = 71)	12-week MBSR: 2.5-h weekly meetings and a 2.5-h retreat day (n = 18, mean age = 71)	Not explicitly stated, but followed the MBSR protocol that presumably included at-home practices	Verbal fluency, response inhibition (stroop task), short-term working memory (digit span forward), list learning (immediate and delayed), paragraph learning (immediate and delayed),	Significant pre to post changes were observed for list learning (delayed recall), paragraph learning (immediate and delayed), verbal fluency, and response inhibition.
O'Connor et al., 2014	The effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on depressive symptoms in elderly bereaved people with loss-related distress: a controlled pilot study	Feasibility	Distressed older adults (n = 65, mean age = 78)	MBCT: 2-h weekly meetings for 8 weeks (n = 32, mean age = 78)	Wait-list group (n = 33, mean age = 77)	40 min of daily practice	Working memory (letter-number sequencing from WAIS-III administered via telephone)	Mindfulness group showed improvements in working memoyt at post-training compared to wait-list control participants.
McHugh et al., 2010	Mindfulness as a potential intervention for stimulus over-selectivity in older adults	Experimental induction	Older adults (n = 24, mean age = 79)	10-min mindfulness induction	10-min unfocused attention" induction	n/a	stimulus over-selectivity	Brief mindfulness induction significantly reduced stimulus over-selectivity
Mallya and Fiocco, 2016	Effects of mindfulness training on cognitive and well-being in older adults	Quasi-RCT	Older adults (n = 97, mean age = 69)	MBSR: 2.5-h weekly meetings for 8 weeks (n = 57)	Reading and Relaxation group: 2.5-h weekly meetings for 8 weeks (n = 40)	30 min. of daily practice	Simple attention and switching (trail making tests A and B), processing speed (controlled oral word association test), episodic memory (CVLT)	No significant differences between groups on any of the measures following the intervention.
Alexander et al., 1989	Transcendental meditation, mindfulness, and longevity: an experimental study with the elderly	RCT	Older adults (n = 62, mean age = 81 years)	30 min. once/week sessions for 8 weeks: 1) Transcendental Meditation (n = 20); 2) Langer method of mindfulness meditation (n = 21)	Relaxation group (n = 21); no treatment (n = 11)	20 min of twice daily practice for the active groups	Paired associate learning (DST subtest), cognitive flexibility (overlearned verbal task, Stroop color word test [RT interference]), perceived control, verbal fluency (DST subtest)	TM and mindfulness groups improved more than both control groups on paired associate learning and one measure of cognitive flexibility. TM outperformed mindfulness meditation on both of these measures.
Moynihan et al., 2013	Mindfulness-based stress reduction in older adults: effects on executive function, frontal alpha asymmetry and immune function.	RCT	Older adults (n = 201, mean age = 73.4)	MBSR: 2.5-h weekly meetings for 8 weeks and a 7-h intensive retreat (n = 101; mean age = 73),	Wait-list group (n = 100, mean age = 74)	none	Processing speed (trail making test A) and set-shifting (trail making B/A ratio); left frontal alpha asymmetry	There were improvements in set-shifting and a reduced shift to rightward frontal alpha activation immediately following mindfulness training compared to wait-list, but these effects were not maintained at follow-up.
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING
Fiocco and Mallya, 2015	The importance of cultivating mindfulness for cognitive and emotional well-being in late life	Correlational	Older adults (n = 73, mean age = 69)	n/a	none	n/a	Psychological well-being (depressive symptoms, quality of life, stress)	Trait mindfulness is associated with greater psychological well-being on all measures.
Prakash et al., 2015	The role of emotion regulation and cognitive control in the association between mindfulness disposition and stress	Correlational	Older adults (n = 48, mean age = 65)	n/a	Young adults (n = 50, mean age = 24)	n/a	Perceived stress, emotion dysregulation	Trait mindfulness is negatively associated with perceived stress and emotion dysregulation mediates this relationship.
Prakash et al., 2017	Mindfulness and emotion regulation in older and young adults	Correlational	Older adults (n = 48, mean age = 65)	n/a	Young adults (n = 49, mean age = 24)	n/a	Emotion dysregulation, emotion regulation strategy use	Thought avoidance mediates the association between trait mindfulness and emotion dysregulation across both age groups. Age moderated this effect such that less mindfulness in young adults is associated with greater use of thought avoidance and greater emotion dysregulation.
Morone et al., 2008	“I felt like a new person.” The effects of mindfulness meditation on older adults with chronic pain: qualitative narrative analysis of diary entries	Feasability (qualitative)	Older adults with chronic pain (n = 27, mean age = 74)	8-week mindfulness meditation program modeled on MBSR: 1.5-h weekly meetings	none	50 min of daily practice	Diary contents	Diary themes reflected beneficial effects on pain, attention, sleep (latency and quality), achieving well-being (mood elevation, global quality of life).
Splevins et al., 2009	Do improvements in emotional distress correlate with becoming more mindful? A study of older adults	Feasibility	Older adults with significant stress or symptoms of depression or anxiety (n = 22, mean age = 65 years)	MBCT: 2-h weekly meetings for 8 weeks	none	none	Emotional wellbeing (depression, anxiety, stress levels)	Signfiicant improvements in emotional well-being post-MBCT. Increased mindfulness associated with improved emotional wellbeing; act with awareness and accept without judgmenet associated with reduced depression.
Szanton et al., 2011	Examining mindfulness-based stress reduction: perceptions from minority older adults residing in a low-income housing facility	Feasibility (qualitative focus groups)	Older-adult, African American, low-income women (n = age range = 60-90)	Mindfulness meditation program modeled on MBSR: meeting duration not specified	none	none	Focus group discussion content	Primary themes: stress management, applying mindfulness, social support of group meditation; Used MBSR for stressors: growing older with physical pain, medical tests, financial strain, having grandchildren with significant mental, physical, financial, or legal hardships; used MBSR for coping with medical procedures and managing depression and anger.
Foulk et al., 2014	Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy with older adults: an exploratory study	Feasibility	Older adults with depression and/or anxiety (n = 50, mean age = 73)	MBCT: weekly meetings for 8 weeks and one 6-h retreat	none	30-40 min of daily practice	Anxiety (hospital anxiety and depression scale), rumination (ruminative responses scale), depressive symptoms (geriatric depression scale- short form), insomnia (sleep problems scale)	Participation in MBCT resulted in significant improvements in reported anxiety, ruminative thoughts, and sleep problems; reduced depressive symptoms.
Morone et al., 2009	A mind–body program for older adults with chronic low back pain: results of a pilot study	RCT	Older adults with lower back pain (n = 40, mean age = 78)	8-week mindfulness meditation program modeled on MBSR: 1.5-h weekly meetings	Education group (n = 20, mean age = 73)	50 min of daily practice	Disability, psychological function, pain severity	Both groups improved on measures of disability, pain, and psychological function at post-intervention and 4-month follow-up. No between group differences.
Young and Baime, 2010	Mindfulness-based stress reduction: effect on emotional distress in older adults	Feasibility	Older adults with clinically significant depression and anxiety (n = 141, mean age = 65)	MBSR: weekly meetings for 8 weeks	none	45 min of daily practice	Change in mood states (profile of mood states, short form)	Overall emotional distress and all subscales improved signfiicantly, >50% reduction in number of older adults with clinically significant depression and anxiety
Creswell et al., 2012	Mindfulness-based stress reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults: a small randomized Controlled Trial	RCT	Older adults (n = 40, mean age = 65 years)	MBSR: 2-h weekly meetings for 8 weeks and one 7-h retreat (n = 20, mean age = 64)	Wait-list group (n = 20, mean age = 65)	30 min of daily practice	Loneliness	Mindfulness training produced greater reductions in loneliness than the wait-list group.
Lenze et al., 2014	Mindfulness-based stress reduction for older adults with worry symptoms and co-occuring cognitive dysfunction	Feasbility	Older adults with clinically significnat anxiety and cognitive dysfunction (n = 34, mean age = 71)	8-week MBSR: 2.5-h weekly meetings and a 1-day retreat (n = 16, mean age = 71)	12-week MBSR: 2.5-h weekly meetings and a 2.5-h retreat day (n = 18, mean age = 71)	Not explicitly stated, but MBSR protocol includes at-home practices	Worry (Penn State worry questionaire)	Participants exhibited improvements in worry severity, with no additional benefit of the 12-week intervention over the 8-week intervention.
INFLAMMATORY PROCESSES
Creswell et al., 2012	Mindfulness-based stress reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults: a small randomized controlled trial	RCT	Older adults (n = 40, mean age = 65 years)	MBSR: 2-h weekly meetings for 8 weeks and one 7-h retreat (n = 20, mean age = 64)	Wait-list group (n = 20, mean age = 65)	30 min of daily practice	Pro-inflammatory gene expression (NF-κB leukocytes, C reactive protein)	Baseline loneliness was associated with and NF-κB gene expression. Compared to the wait-list group, MBSR participants exhibited down-regulation of NF-κB expression and reduced C-reactive protein levels, but no difference in IL-6 levels.
Gallegos et al., 2013	Toward identifying the effects of the specific components of mindfulness-based stress reduction on biologic and emotional outcomes among older adults	RCT	Older adults (n = 200)	MBSR (n = 100, mean age = 72)	Wait-list group (n = 100) not included in analysis	Participants engaged in at-home activities, but requirement not specified	Immune function (IL-6), circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 concentrations, positive affect	More yoga practice associated with higher post-treatment IGF-1 and greater improvement in positive affect across intervention; sitting meditation associated with post-treatment IGF-1; greater use of body scanning associated with reduced antigen-specific IgM and IgG 3 weeks postintervention (but not 24 weeks); no associations between MBSR activities and IL-6 levels.
Moynihan et al., 2013	Mindfulness-based stress reduction in older adults: effects on executive function, frontal alpha asymmetry and immune function.	RCT	Older adults (n = 201, mean age = 73.4)	MBSR: 2.5-h weekly meetings for 8 weeks and a 7-h intensive retreat (n = 101; mean age = 73),	Wait-list group (n = 100, mean age = 74)	none	Antibody response (immunoglobulin G response to protein antigen).	There were higher baseline antibody levels after MBSR, but lower antibody responses 24 weeks after antigen challenge.
Black et al., 2015	Mindfulness meditation and improvement in sleep quality and daytime impairment among older adults with sleep disturbances	RCT	Older adults with moderate sleep disturbance (n = 49, mean age = 66)	Mindful awareness practices intervention: 2-h weekly meetings (n = 24, mean age = 67)	Sleep hygeine education (n = 25, mean age = 66)	Graduated daily practice (5-20 min)	Sleep disturbance (pittsburgh sleep quality index); insomnia, depression, anxiety, stress, and fatigue; inflammatory signaling NF-κB	Mindfulness group improved more on PSQI, insomnia symptoms, depression symptoms, fatigue interference, fatigue severity. No between group differences for anxiety, stress, or NF-κB (but these levels declines significantly over time in both groups).