Mindful Awareness Program for the Prevention of Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Condition: Dementia
MeSH terms: Dementia
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The objective of this study is to determine whether regular Mindful Awareness Program (MAP)
      may reverse cognitive impairment and/or prevent further cognitive decline among older adults.
      60 elderly with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were randomized to participate in either the
      MAP or the Health Education Program (HEP). Sessions will be conducted weekly for 12 weeks,
      and monthly for 6 months. Participants would be assessed at 3 time-points: at the start, at
      3-months and at 9-months.

      It was hypothesized that as compared to HEP participants, MAP participants will (1) have
      improved functional connectivity, (2) have a decreased risk in cognitive decline and (3)
      report higher psychological well-being.
    

Detailed description: 
      Participants Study participants are community-dwelling elderly.

      Assessments Demographic data will be collected at the start. Psychological tests for
      depression and anxiety and neuropsychological tests of cognitive functioning will be done at
      the start, at 3-months and at 9-months, the end of the study. A urine sample will be
      collected at the start and at the end of the study; blood, fecal and saliva samples will be
      collected at all three time points. Participants will also undergo a brain neuro-imaging scan
      at the start of the study and at the 3-months interval.

      Intervention Sessions This is an intervention study with a control group design. The strength
      of this design is its experimental nature with randomization. The control group is the health
      education program participants.

      In the Mindful Awareness Program, all 30 participants will be seen in a group format once a
      week for 40 minutes for 12 weeks, followed by once a month for 40 minutes for 6 months. The
      intervention is modelled on similar groups teaching mindfulness meditation to the elderly.
      The sessions will be led by an experienced instructor who has conducted pilot studies on the
      use of mindful awareness practice techniques with the elderly.

      Participants shall be required to practice these techniques at home daily and will be asked
      to keep a log of their practice.

      For the Health Education Program, all 30 participants will be seen in a group format once a
      week for 40 minutes for 12 weeks, followed by once a month for 40 minutes for 6 months. Each
      weekly session will cover a healthy living topic related to maintaining and improving
      cognitive function. The monthly sessions will review the topics covered with a discussion of
      how participants have implemented the imparted knowledge to their daily lives. The sessions
      will be led by an experienced instructor who has conducted similar teaching sessions to the
      elderly.

      Participants will be provided with hand-outs at each session, and there will be discussions
      to encourage them to practice what is being taught in their daily lives.
    

Intervention name(s): Mindful Awareness Program; Health Education Program
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): For Mindful Awareness Program, 40-minutes weekly sessions for 12 weeks, followed by 40-minutes monthly for 6 months. The mindful awareness practice techniques to be taught to the elderly include: (1) mindfulness of the senses practice; (2) the body scan practice; (3) walking meditation practice; (4) 'movement nature meant' practice; and (5) visuo-motor limb tasks; For the Health Education Program, weekly sessions of 40 minutes for 12 weeks, followed by monthly sessions of 40 minutes for 6 months.
Week 1: Diabetes Mellitus Week 2: Hypertension Week 3: Home Safety Week 4: Medications Week 5: Diet Week 6: Depression Week 7: Dementia Week 8: Anxiety Week 9: Sleep Week 10: Exercise Week 11: Coping with bereavement Week 12: Social support
Other intervention name(s): MAP; HEP
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: Prevention of dementia; Mindful awareness program; Mild cognitive impairment; Mindfulness; Elderly; Cognitive decline