According to new research published in the journal Brain, Behavior, & Immunity, just eight weeks of mindfulness meditation training was positively linked to decreased feelings of loneliness in the elderly. Additionally, research conducted at Carnegie Mellon University found that meditation showed positive effects on participants' overall health.

It should come as no surprise that loneliness among seniors has been linked to various health problems such as cardiovascular disease, mental illness, and even higher incidence of premature death. Beyond that, study researchers went on to add that meditation even showed reductions of inflammation-related genes. This insight may be significant since inflammation contributes to various forms of cancer, heart disease, and even cognitive degeneration.

Similarly, a study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science indicated that meditation could result in positive brain changes that guard against mental illness.