Effects of Mindfulness Based Interventions in Adults and Older Adults Caregivers of Patients with Early Stage Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Pilot Study

Contact Information

Keywords

Alzheimer’s disease; burden; caregivers; depression; mindfulness; quality of life.

Abstract

Background: Many studies have highlighted the effect of training with mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on the psycho-physical rebalancing of patients suffering from various pathologies, and their families. Objective: In this study, the effect of a training with mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on quality of life and emotion regulation (depression) was verified in caregivers (CGs) of patients affected by Alzheimer's disease at early stage (AD-P). Methods: In this randomized controlled study, 22 CGs (age≥60 years) were treated with MBIs, in particular MBSR, and 22 CGs had no treatment. Tests (T0-T1 six months) included: SF 36-Quality of Life (QoL); Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI); FACIT-Spiritual-Well-Being; Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); Everyday Cognition scales; and Mini-Mental State Examination (for AD-P). Results: Significant differences emerged between T0 and T1 for CGs with MBSR in the following dimensions: Depression-BDI (p > 0.001), Burden CBI-Total (0.001), CBI-Time dependent burden (p < 0.001), CBI-Developmental burden (p < 0.001), CBI-Physical burden (p < 0.001); and pain (p = 0.002) all decreased; while CBI-Social burden (p = 0.004), QoL-Health Role Limitation (p < 0.000), QoL-Role-Limitation-Emotional-Problem (p < 0.000), QoL-Energy-fatigue (p < 0.000), QoL-Emotional Well-Being (p < 0.001), QoL-Social Well Being (p = 0.010), and QoL-General Health (p = 0.004) increased. The control group of untreated CG showed a significant worsening in the dimensions of Physical functioning (p = 0.036) and pain (p = 0.047).

Citation

Giulietti, M. V., Fabbietti, P., Spatuzzi, R., & Vespa, A. (2024). Effects of Mindfulness Based Interventions in Adults and Older Adults Caregivers of Patients with Early Stage Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Pilot Study. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 97(4), 1923–1930. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-230284

DOI

10.3233/JAD-230284

EWB Constructs:

(2) life satisfaction
(3) positive affect

EWB Measures:

(1) Spiritual Well-Being Index FACIT-SP (SWB)

data availability:

Yes

data availability details:

The data can be provided under justified requests to the authors (Maria Velia Giulietti and Anna Vespa).

brain imaging paradigm:

N/A

brain region/circuit:

Exclusion Criteria:

(1) Subjects with severe medical conditions: neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease;
(2) other dementias;
(3) primary brain neoplasia;
(4) untreated epilepsy;
(5) subjects with sensorimotor deficits;
(6) the presence of sensory impairments that interfere with treatment subjects with severe psychopathological comorbidities.

Inclusion Criteria

(1) Age > 70;
(2) diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (early-stage) according to NINDS-ADRDA criteria;
(3) MMSE score between 18 and 27;
(4) availability during testing and intervention;
(5) the presence of caregiver; and willingness to sign informed consent.

Non-EWB Behavioral
Measures:

(1) The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
(2) Social schedule
(3) The Everyday Cognition (ECOG)
(4) Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)
(5) The Social Functioning-36
(6) The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)

First author:

Maria Velia Giulietti

species:

Human

sample size:

study design:

(5) RCT

longitudinal data?

No (Pilot, only report pre-intervention

younger controls?

interventions:

Mindfulness-based intervention

study population:

(2) patients with (pre)clinical dementia

sex (% female):

70.45%

ethnicity (%white)

not stated (Italy)

Age (mean, sd):

82.9, 4.95

biological/Physiological Measures:

N/A