Evaluation of a Brief Mindfulness-Based Program on Recall and Sense of Well-Being in a Sample of Older African Americans (Report‪)‬

Introduction For the first time in American history, older adults age 65 and above outnumber people under the age of 25 years (Spence, 1995). Accounting for 8.3% of the older adult population in 2008, it is anticipated that the number of African American seniors will rise to 11% by 2050 (U.S. Administration on Aging [AOA], 2010). In general, health is expected to decline in the older adult population (Rejeski, 2008). Specifically, research findings predict a higher prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and various types of dementia in the older adult African American population (Doniger, Jo, Simon, & Crystal, 2009; Gurland, et al., 1999). Addressing these concerns, this study tested the ability of a brief mindfulness training program to improve the memory and well-being in a group of older African Americans.