Mindfulness mechanisms and psychological effects for aMCI patients: A comparison with psychoeducation

Contact Information

Keywords

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment; Anxiety; Cognitive dysfunction; Depression; Intervention study; Quality of life.

Abstract

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), an Alzheimer's disease prodrome, is characterized by cognitive and psychological symptoms, the latter aggravating prognosis. A mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) represents a promising non-pharmacological framework for Alzheimer's disease prevention. The Monitoring + Acceptance Theory (MAT) postulates that MBI improves cognition through monitoring, and psychological well-being, through acceptance. This single-blind preliminary randomized-controlled study investigated the effects of a MBI on anxio-depressive symptoms, quality of life, and memory, compared to a psychoeducation-based intervention in older adults with aMCI. The contribution of MAT components and of ruminations' reduction to intervention efficacy were examined. Participants assigned to both conditions experienced similar benefits regarding anxio-depressive symptoms and aging-related quality of life. General quality of life and memory remained unchanged. A partial support of the MAT and of ruminations reduction to the MBI's efficacy was found. The findings provide new insights on the effects and mechanisms of a MBI on aMCI symptoms

Citation

Larouche, E., Hudon, C., & Goulet, S. (2019). Mindfulness mechanisms and psychological effects for aMCI patients: A comparison with psychoeducation. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 34, 93–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.11.008

DOI

10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.11.008

EWB Constructs:

(1) goal pursuit;
(2) life satisfaction;
(5) sense of meaning
(4) quality of life;
(3) positive affect;

EWB Measures:

(3) General quality of life (gQOL): World Health Organisation Quality of Life Brief scale (WHOQOL-Brief): Life Satisfaction, Quality of Life, Sense of Meaning
(4) World Health Organisation Quality of Life Old scale (WHOQOL-Old): Goal Pursuit, Life Satisfaction, Positive Affect, Sense of Meaning

data availability:

data availability details:

N/A

brain imaging paradigm:

N/A

brain region/circuit:

Exclusion Criteria:

(1) history of neurological disease, traumatic brain injury, intracranial surgery, or stroke;
(2) current psychiatric illness according to the DSM–5
(3) substance abuse in the last 12 months
(4) general anesthesia or oncologic treatment in the past six months; uncorrected vision or hearing impairments
(5)untreated or unstable metabolic condition (e.g., Type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism)
(6) recent treatment that may impact cognition;
(7) recent or sustained meditative experience;
(8) anticipated unavailability to attend one or more of the first four intervention sessions

Inclusion Criteria

aMCI patient:
(a) complaint about cognitive changes expressed by the patient, a relative, or a clinician
(b) objective impairment in one or more cognitive domains, including at least episodic memory, with a performance under −1.5 standard deviation based on local norms
(c) preserved overall functional autonomy; and (d) absence of dementia.
Diagnosis of aMCI was validated in consensus meetings supervised by two licensed neuropsychologists.

Non-EWB Behavioral
Measures:

(1) episodic memory: free recall (word list) verbal episodic memory task
(1) Depressive symptoms: the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
(2) Anxiety symptoms: Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI)
(5) ruminations: Ruminative Response Scale (RRS)
(6) mindfulness: Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)

First author:

Larouche, Eddy

species:

Human

sample size:

study design:

(5) RCT

longitudinal data?

Yes

younger controls?

interventions:

8 week Mindfulness-based intervention

study population:

(2) patients with (pre)clinical dementia

sex (% female):

42%

ethnicity (%white)

not stated (Canada)

Age (mean, sd):

71.09, 6.76

biological/Physiological Measures:

N/A