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Mindfulness: Reconnecting the Body and Mind in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology

Correspondence: Address correspondence to Dr. W. Jack Rejeski, Departments of Health and Exercise Science and Public Health Science, Box 7868, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109. E-mail: rejeski{at}wfu.edu

Derived from Buddhism, mindfulness is a unique approach for understanding human suffering and happiness that has attracted rapidly growing interest among health care professionals. In this article I describe current thinking about the concept of mindfulness and elaborate on why and how mindfulness-based interventions have potential within the context of geriatric medicine and gerontology. Upon reviewing definitions and models of the concept, I give attention to the unique role that the body plays in cultivating mindfulness and the advantages that this focus has for older adults because they have aging biological systems and may experience chronic disease, pain, and disability. In the final section I discuss why mindfulness may be particularly useful in promoting physical activity among older adults and how physical activity may be used as a vehicle to promote mindfulness.

Key Words: Disability • Interventions in aging • Pain • Physical activity