Online mindfulness meditation for mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia: A feasibility study protocol.
Jiuhong You, Zunera Khan, Reena Swaroop, Yan Sun, Latha Velayudhan, Dag Aarsland
PloS one January 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0336583 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAn eight-week, online-delivered mindfulness program is being tested for feasibility and acceptability in people over 60 with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia in the UK. The study will recruit 32 participants who will attend weekly live online sessions led by an experienced teacher, plus daily home practice. Primary outcomes are feasibility and acceptability measured through participation records and interviews. Secondary outcomes include changes in cognition, mood, sleep, quality of life, mindfulness, and resilience. Online delivery could reduce travel burdens and costs, and the study aims to provide evidence supporting remote interventions for this population.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Feasibility study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32 |
| Population | People over 60 years old with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia in the UK |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Registration | NCT06768450 |
| Key finding | The study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an online mindfulness program for people with MCI and mild dementia, but results are not yet reported. |
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate stage between normal aging and mild dementia. Patients with MCI and dementia usually experience impairment in cognitive functions such as memory, executive function, and processing speed. They may also develop neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and agitation. While previous studies suggest that mindfulness meditation may benefit this population, the feasibility of delivering such interventions online remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of an eight-week, online-delivered mindfulness program for people with MCI and mild dementia. This study will recruit 32 participants over 60 years old with MCI or mild dementia in the UK. Participants will attend a weekly live online mindfulness meditation session, led by an experienced mindfulness teacher for eight weeks. Each session lasts 2.5 hours. In addition, participants will be encouraged to do daily home practice. The primary outcomes are feasibility and acceptability of an online program, assessed through participation records and semi-structured interviews. Secondary outcomes include participants' changes in cognitive function, mood, sleep, quality of life, mindfulness, and resilience. Mindfulness meditation delivered online could help reduce travel burdens and overall costs. This study aims to assess the usability and potential effects of online-delivered programs for this population, providing evidence to support the use of remote interventions in the care of older adults with cognitive impairments. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06768450.