Effects of Meditation versus Music Listening on Perceived Stress, Mood, Sleep, and Quality of Life in Adults with Early Memory Loss: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Kim E Innes, Terry Kit Selfe, Dharma Singh Khalsa, Sahiti Kandati
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease April 8, 2016 DOI: 10.3233/jad-151106 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Community-dwelling older adults with subjective cognitive decline |
| Interventions | Kirtan Kriya Meditation music listening |
| Dose | 12 minutes daily |
| Duration | 12-week intervention with practice at discretion for the following 3 months; assessments at baseline, 12 weeks, and 26 weeks |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Alzheimer's disease Cognitive impairment Memory complaints Mind-body therapy Mood Quality of life Sleep Stress Subjective |
| Key findings | Both Kirtan Kriya Meditation and music listening improved psychological well-being, mood, sleep quality, perceived stress, and quality of life at 12 weeks, with gains sustained or improved at 6 months. Kirtan Kriya produced greater improvements than music listening in perceived stress, mood, psychological well-being, and QOL-Mental Health. |
Abstract
Older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) are at increased risk not only for Alzheimer's disease, but for poor mental health, impaired sleep, and diminished quality of life (QOL), which in turn, contribute to further cognitive decline, highlighting the need for early intervention. In this randomized controlled trial, we assessed the effects of two 12-week relaxation programs, Kirtan Kriya Meditation (KK) and music listening (ML), on perceived stress, sleep, mood, and health-related QOL in older adults with SCD. Sixty community-dwelling older adults with SCD were randomized to a KK or ML program and asked to practice 12 minutes daily for 12 weeks, then at their discretion for the following 3 months. At baseline, 12 weeks, and 26 weeks, perceived stress, mood, psychological well-being, sleep quality, and health-related QOL were measured using well-validated instruments. Fifty-three participants (88%) completed the 6-month study. Participants in both groups showed significant improvement at 12 weeks in psychological well-being and in multiple domains of mood and sleep quality (p's≤0.05). Relative to ML, those assigned to KK showed greater gains in perceived stress, mood, psychological well-being, and QOL-Mental Health (p's≤0.09). Observed gains were sustained or improved at 6 months, with both groups showing marked and significant improvement in all outcomes. Changes were unrelated to treatment expectancies. Findings suggest that practice of a simple meditation or ML program may improve stress, mood, well-being, sleep, and QOL in adults with SCD, with benefits sustained at 6 months and gains that were particularly pronounced in the KK group.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 18
- Spiritual Fitness: A New Dimension in Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention Journal of Alzheimer's Disease February 2, 2021
- Yoga as Advanced Cognitive Training: How Kirtan Kriya In Kundalini Yoga Changes the PTSD Brain Journal of Yoga and Physiotherapy September 3, 2019
- 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 effects of meditation–based interventions on sleep quality among adults aged ≥ 55 with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta–analysis Geriatric Nursing August 10, 2026
- Mindfulness Meditation for Sleep Disturbances Among Individuals with Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review. Healthcare January 31, 2025
and 13 more in the library
Cites 25
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Investigation of mindfulness meditation practitioners with voxel-based morphometry Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience December 3, 2007
- Functional brain mapping of the relaxation response and meditation Neuroreport May 1, 2000
- Can Meditation Slow Rate of Cellular Aging? Cognitive Stress, Mindfulness, and Telomeres Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences August 1, 2009
and 20 more in the library