The Effects of Mindfulness on Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment.
Wee Ping Wong, Jan Coles, Richard Chambers, David Bin-Chia Wu, Craig Hassed
Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports December 2, 2017 DOI: 10.3233/adr-170031 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Longitudinal mixed-methods observational study Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) |
| Interventions | Mindfulness meditation eight-week group-based mindfulness training program |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 59-week (one-year) follow-up |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Alzheimer’s disease Cognition Dementia Mild cognitive impairment |
| Key findings | MCI participants showed significant improvements in cognitive function and trait mindfulness after an eight-week mindfulness program. Over 59 weeks to one-year follow-up, more meditation time correlated with greater improvements in cognitive function and everyday activities functioning, with large effect sizes. The authors suggest long-term mindfulness practice may be associated with cognitive and functional improvements and could be a potential non-pharmacological intervention for MCI. |
Abstract
The current lack of an effective cure for dementia would exacerbate its prevalence and incidence globally. Growing evidence has linked mindfulness to cognitive and psychological improvements that could be relevant for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). To investigate whether mindfulness practice can improve health outcomes of MCI. The study is the first longitudinal mixed-methods observational study with a one-year follow-up period, that customized an eight-week group-based mindfulness training program for older adults with MCI (n = 14). Measures included cognitive function, psychological health, trait mindfulness, adherence to mindfulness practice, and everyday activities functioning as assessed at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and one-year follow-up. Repeated measures ANOVAs, Pearson's correlation analyses, and Mann-Whitney U tests were performed. The MCI participants showed significant improvements in cognitive function (p < 0.05) and trait mindfulness (p < 0.05) after completing the intervention. Between program intervention and one-year follow-up (59 weeks), positive correlations were found between their cognitive function (p < 0.05) and everyday activities functioning (p < 0.05) with the duration of mindfulness meditation; and between trait mindfulness and the level of informal mindfulness practice (p < 0.05). Those who meditated more during these 59 weeks, showed greater improvements in cognitive function (p < 0.05) and everyday activities functioning (p < 0.05), with large effect sizes at the one-year follow-up. Qualitative findings will be reported separately. Long-term mindfulness practice may be associated with cognitive and functional improvements for older adults with MCI. Mindfulness training could be a potential efficacious non-pharmacological therapeutic intervention for MCI.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 19
- A meta-analysis of the association between mindfulness and motivation Frontiers in Public Health August 8, 2023
- The Impact of a Yoga-Based Mindfulness Intervention versus Psycho-Educational Session for Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health November 21, 2022
- Occupational Therapist-Led Mindfulness Training Program for Older Adults Living with Early Cognitive Decline in Primary Care: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports 2023
- Positive Psychology Interventions in Early-Stage Cognitive Decline Related to Dementia: A Systematic Review of Cognitive and Brain Functioning Outcomes of Mindfulness Interventions. Brain Sciences May 28, 2025
- Effect of Body Scanning and Walking Mindfulness on the Spatial Memory of Persons with Dementia Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental August 11, 2025
and 14 more in the library
Cites 21
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- Effects of Meditation Experience on Functional Connectivity of Distributed Brain Networks Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Change in Brainstem Gray Matter Concentration Following a Mindfulness-Based Intervention is Correlated with Improvement in Psychological Well-Being Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2014
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