Beneficial Effects of Mindfulness-based Training on Neuropsychological Outcomes in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Summary

This study evaluates the effects of Mindfulness-based Interventions (MBI) on the neuropsychological profile of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). It will also investigate changes in fMRI activity, such as resting-state functional connectivity networks and changes in activity in attention networks in task-related fMRI using graph theory analysis after Mindfulness-based Interventions. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the Mindfulness-Based Intervention, Cognitive Rehabilitation Training or Treatment as Usual as the passive control group comparison.

Conditions

• Mild Cognitive Impairment

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Mindfulness Based Training (MBT) Program

Participants in the MBT program will meet weekly for 8 weeks. Each session will last one-and-a-half hours. Mindfulness, defined as caring moment-to-moment awareness, will be cultivated through the teaching and formal practice of sitting and walking meditation, body scan, and mindful movement (e.g. yoga). Participants will also be taught how to practice mindfulness informally when eating, engaging in pleasurable activities and through interactions with others. Participants will be encouraged to practice approximately 30 minutes a day, and will be provided handouts as well as guided audio recordings of formal practices taught in session to aid their practice at home.

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive Rehabilitation Training

Participants in the CRT program will meet weekly for 8 weeks. Each session will last one-and-a-half hours. The 8 week-program will consist of the following components: (i) identifying and working on at least one personal rehabilitation goal related to everyday life that is associated with cognitive difficulties; (ii) reviewing and building on the use of practical memory strategies, and or introducing and teaching the use of a new strategy or memory aid; (iii) introducing techniques for learning new information and associations, identifying the preferred strategy, and encouraging the application of this strategy in daily life; (iv) providing practice in maintaining attention and concentration; and (v) exploring current ways of coping with stress and anxiety as well as providing relaxation techniques to help aid with coping (Clare, 2007). Participants will be provided with instructional hand-outs as well as logs to record, monitor and evaluate their progress.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

  collaborator OTHER

• Singapore General Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Kinjal Doshi, PhD · Singapore General Hospital

• Julian Lim, PhD · Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

45 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-01-01

Primary Completion

2019-12-01

Completion

2019-12-01

Countries

• Singapore

Study Locations