Effects of Meditation Training and Non-Native Language Training on Cognition in Older Adults
Authors: Demnitz-King Harriet , Requier Florence , Whitfield Tim , Schlosser Marco , Gonneaud Julie , Ware Caitlin , Barnhofer Thorsten , Coll-Padros Nina , Dautricourt Sophie , Delarue Marion , Klimecki Olga M. , Paly Léo , Salmon Eric , Schild Ann-Katrin , Wirth Miranka , Frison Eric , Lutz Antoine , Chételat Gaël , Collette Fabienne , Marchant Natalie L. ,   Medit-Ageing Research Group, Allais Florence , André Claire , Arenaza-Urquijo Eider , Asselineau Julien , Baez Lugo Sebastian , Batchelor Martine , Beaugonin Axel , Bejanin Alexandre , Botton Maelle , Champetier Pierre , Chocat Anne , De Flores Robin , De La Sayette Vincent , Delamilleure Pascal , Egret Stéphanie , Espérou Hélene , Felisatti Francesca , Ferrand-Devouges Eglantine , Garnier-Groussard Antoine , Gheysen Francis , Heidmann Marc , Hendy Anne , Huong Tran Thien , Joret Philippe Agathe , Kuhn Elizabeth , Landeau Brigitte , Le Du Gwendoline , Lefranc Valérie , Mezenge Florence , Moulinet Inés , Ourry Valentin , Palix Cassandre , Quillard Anne , Rauchs Géraldine , Rehel Stéphane , Schwimmer Corrine , Sherif Siya , Tomadesso Clémence , Touron Edelweiss , Vanhoutte Matthieu 
Published: July 2023

Importance

Nonpharmacological interventions are a potential strategy to maintain or promote cognitive functioning in older adults.

Objective

To investigate the effects of 18 months’ meditation training and 18 months’ non-native language training on cognition in older adults.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This study was a secondary analysis of the Age-Well trial, an 18-month, observer-masked, randomized clinical trial with 3 parallel arms. Eligible participants were community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older residing in Caen, France. Participants were enrolled from November 24, 2016, to March 5, 2018, and randomly assigned (1:1:1) to meditation training, non-native language (English) training, or no intervention arms. Final follow-up was completed on February 6, 2020. Data were analyzed between December 2021 and November 2022.

Interventions

The 18-month meditation and non-native language training interventions were structurally equivalent and included 2-hour weekly group sessions, daily home practice of 20 minutes or longer, and 1 day of more intensive home practice. The no intervention group was instructed not to change their habits and to continue living as usual.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Cognition (a prespecified secondary outcome of the Age-Well trial) was assessed preintervention and postintervention via the Preclinical Alzheimer Cognitive Composite 5 (PACC5), and composites assessing episodic memory, executive function, and attention.

Results

Among 137 randomized participants, 2 were excluded for not meeting eligibility criteria, leaving 135 (mean [SD] age, 69.3 [3.8] years; 83 female [61%]) eligible for analysis. One participant among the remaining 135 did not complete the trial. In adjusted mixed effects models, no interaction effects were observed between visit and group for PACC5 (F2,131.39 = 2.58; P = .08), episodic memory (F2,131.60 = 2.34; P = .10), executive function (F2,131.26 = 0.89; P = .41), or attention (F2,131.20 = 0.34; P = .79). Results remained substantively unchanged across sensitivity and exploratory analyses.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this secondary analysis of an 18-month randomized trial, meditation and non-native language training did not confer salutary cognitive effects. Although further analyses are needed to explore the effects of these interventions on other relevant outcomes related to aging and well-being, these findings did not support the use of these interventions for enhancing cognition in cognitively healthy older adults.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02977819