U of M Medical School study finds visions of nonphysical world are common among cognitively healthy Ojibwe individuals.

A study conducted by the University of Minnesota Medical School found that visions of the nonphysical world are common among cognitively healthy Ojibwe individuals. The research aimed to understand how Ojibwe culture and spirituality can affect a doctor's assessment of normal aging. The study recruited 33 cognitively healthy tribal elders aged 55 years or older, and found that 48% of participants reported frequent transient visions of the nonphysical world that were generally benevolent and involved spiritual beings and/or ancestors. The researchers emphasize the importance of considering cultural and spiritual context to avoid misdiagnosis of neuropsychiatric disease. The study was funded by various organizations including the National Institutes of Health and the Alzheimer's Association. [Extracted from the article]