Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on mental, cognitive outcomes and neuroplastic changes in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Yihong Leow, Nur Lidiya Binte Abdul Rashid, Piyanee Klainin‐Yobas, Zemiao Zhang, Xi Vivien Wu
Journal of Advanced Nursing May 29, 2023 DOI: 10.1111/jan.15720 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Cognition Anxiety disorders Aged Cognitive dysfunction Systematic review Mild cognitive impairment Mindfulness-based interventions Brain neuroplasticity Meta-analysis |
| Key findings | Pooled analyses of ten randomized controlled trials found non-significant effects favoring control groups over mindfulness-based interventions for anxiety, depression, attention, memory and global cognition in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The authors report that brain imaging suggested increased cortical thickness and functional connectivity in memory- and attention-related regions after mindfulness training, but conclude the mental and cognitive outcome evidence is inconclusive and call for larger trials with wait-list controls. |
Abstract
Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on mental and cognitive outcomes including, anxiety, depression, attention, memory, global cognition and neuroplastic changes in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data source: A three-step search strategy was conducted on eight electronic databases, grey literature and reference lists from inception to February 2022. Review
Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining MBIs on older adults with MCI were screened and assessed for risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan using a random-effect model. Narrative synthesis was performed for studies where results could not be pooled statistically.
Results: Ten RCTs were included in the review. Results suggested that right frontal parietal and left inferior temporal gyrus of the brain showed increased cortical thickness after receiving MBIs. There were significant interaction effects for global efficiency and significant interactions in the insular and gyrus regions. Functional connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex, bilateral medial prefrontal cortex and left hippocampus were increased in participants undergoing MBIs. Nevertheless, meta-analysis showed non-significant pooled effects, favouring control groups on anxiety, depression, attention, memory and global cognition.
Conclusion: This review suggested the potential effects of MBIs in improving cortical thickness and connectivity in regions associated with memory and attention. Nevertheless, the effects of MBIs compared to active control groups on depression, anxiety, attention, memory and global cognition are inconclusive due to the lack of studies and non-significant results. Impact: The review advocates for more rigorous studies with larger sample size and utilizing wait-list controls to evaluate the effects of MBIs. MBIs can be considered as an adjunct with other therapies to further enhance the effect on psychological and cognitive outcomes for older adults with MCI. No Patient or Public Contribution as this is a meta-analysis.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- Effectiveness of an age-modified mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in improving mental health in older people with depressive symptoms: a non-randomised controlled trial. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies February 26, 2025
- Meditation for subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Public Health 2025
- The Effect of Mindfulness and Compassion Program on Older Adults as a Positive Aging Intervention International Journal on Lifelong Education and Leadership June 24, 2026
- Rewiring the Brain Improving Mental Well-Being at the Intersection of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Yoga May 9, 2026
- A intersecção mente e corpo: mecanismos neurobiológicos de práticas contemplativas na resposta ao estresse e saúde mental. Congresso Brasileiro de Medicina do Estilo de Vida October 25, 2025
Cites 15
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations Psychological Medicine November 27, 2009
- Effects of Meditation Experience on Functional Connectivity of Distributed Brain Networks Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Reduced interference in working memory following mindfulness training is associated with increases in hippocampal volume Brain Imaging and Behavior March 17, 2018
and 10 more in the library