Neurocognitive enhancement in early ageing in managerial professional contexts

Objective: Recently, neuropsychological interest has been focusing on mindfulness-based interventions effects on the improvement of specific functions such as attention and cognitive abilities, which could be compromised by ageing process. The present study observed potential impact of an intensive empowerment intervention, based on awareness practices supported by a wearable brain sensing device, on psychological, neuropsychological, cognitive measures and on stress levels in a professional management context. Indeed, management contexts are usually characterized by environmental and performance distress that entail professionals to elevated stress conditions, causing a worsening of cognitive abilities. Participants and Methods: In the present research, a sample of 16 managers over 50 were assessed at the beginning, during and at the end of a mindfulness treatment, consisting of 14 daily practices based on focusing on breathing and related bodily sensations. During the assessments, cognitive performances and resting-state/task-related electrophysiological measures (electroencephalography and biofeedback) were collected. Results: After mindfulness treatment emerged a decrease of anxiety and perceived stress and an increase of control and inhibition processes during performances implementation. Moreover, electroencephalographic measures showed an increase of the alpha/beta index due to a higher activation during cognitive performances development. Finally, an increase of the cardiac variability index was observed, suggesting a more concentration level on stressful conditions. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the efficacy of mindfulness treatment in neurocognitive enhancement. The training effectiveness in cognitive processes improvement allows to hypothesize, together with existing rehabilitation measures, the use of mindfulness trainings in order to enhance cognitive abilities, prevent cognitive impairment and reduce cognitive worsening following ageing processes