Can Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment Build Cognitive Reserve and Learn Mindfulness Meditation? Qualitative Theme Analyses from a Small Pilot Study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) could learn mindfulness meditation and whether it improved their stress response, cognitive reserve, and social engagement.
Results Summary
Most participants with MCI successfully learned mindfulness meditation, reporting benefits such as improved well-being, reduced stress reactivity, and enhanced interpersonal skills. Understanding mindfulness concepts correlated strongly with consistent home practice (≥20 minutes/day) but not with baseline cognitive function.
Population
14 adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Effective Dosage
Not specified (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program).
Duration
Not specified.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | increase | mindfulness meditation | adults with MCI | - | were able to learn | #1 |
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | increase | MCI acceptance | adults with MCI | - | had improved | #2 |
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | increase | self-efficacy | adults with MCI | - | had improved | #3 |
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | increase | social engagement | adults with MCI | - | had improved | #4 |
mindfulness meditation program | increase | cognitive reserve | patients with MCI | - | may be enhanced | #5 |
mindfulness meditation | decrease | stress reactivity | participants | - | decreased | #6 |
mindfulness meditation | increase | relaxation | participants | - | increased | #7 |
≥20 minutes/day of home practice | increase | understanding the key concepts of mindfulness | - | r = 0.90 | highly positively correlated with | #8 |
baseline cognitive function | no change | understanding the key concepts of mindfulness | - | r = 0.13 | not correlated with | #9 |
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: High levels of chronic stress negatively impact the hippocampus and are associated with increased incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease. While mindfulness meditation may mitigate the effects of chronic stress, it is uncertain if adults with MCI have the capacity to learn mindfulness meditation. METHODS: 14 adults with MCI were randomized 2:1 to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or a wait-list control group. We conducted qualitative interviews with those who completed MBSR. Transcribed interviews were: a) coded using an emergent themes inductive approach informed by grounded theory; b) rated 0-10, with higher scores reflecting greater perceived benefit from, and understanding of, mindfulness meditation. Ratings were correlated with daily home practice times and baseline level of cognitive function. RESULTS: Seven themes emerged from the interviews: positive perceptions of class; development of mindfulness skills, including meta-cognition; importance of the group experience; enhanced well-being; shift in MCI perspective; decreased stress reactivity and increased relaxation; improvement in interpersonal skills. Ratings of perceived benefit and understanding ranged from 2-10 (mean = 7) and of 0-9.5 (mean = 6), respectively. Many participants experienced substantial benefit/understanding, some had moderate, and a few had minimal benefit/understanding. Understanding the key concepts of mindfulness was highly positively correlated with ≥20 minutes/day of home practice (r = 0.90) but not with baseline cognitive function (r = 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Most adults with MCI were able to learn mindfulness meditation and had improved MCI acceptance, self-efficacy, and social engagement. Cognitive reserve may be enhanced through a mindfulness meditation program even in patients with MCI.