Mindfulness Meditation in Older Adults (MIND)

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Status and phase

Completed

Early Phase 1

Conditions

Aging

Treatments

Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01532596

MBSR-Older-00001

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to test if an 8-week mindfulness meditation training (vs a wait-list control condition) program reduces neurobehavioral reactivity and improves affect regulation in a sample of older adults, as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Additionally, we will examine if mindfulness meditation training reduces loneliness and markers of chronic inflammation.

Full description

It is well established that mindfulness meditation interventions improve a wide-range of mental and physical health outcomes in stressed patient populations, although the underlying mechanisms are currently unknown. It has been suggested that mindfulness training may reduce reactivity to stimuli and improve regulation, although these mechanisms have not been examined (using functional neuroimaging). Additionally, it is well-established that loneliness and inflammation are major risk factors for morbidity and mortality in older adults, although it is currently unknown whether mindfulness meditation training may reduce these risk factors. The purpose of the proposed study is to test if mindfulness meditation training (vs a wait-list control condition) reduces neurobehavioral reactivity and improves affect regulation in a sample of healthy older adults, as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Additionally, we will examine whether mindfulness meditation training reduces loneliness and markers of inflammation.

Participants will be recruited in the Los Angeles area and randomly assigned to the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention or to a wait-list. All participants will provide a blood sample and complete a psychosocial survey before and after the intervention, and complete a 60-minute neuroimaging assessment before and after the MBSR program. All participants who are randomly assigned to the wait-list will be offered the MBSR intervention after the 8-week intervention period and then complete an additional post-test assessment after completing the MBSR program (which will include a blood sample, psychosocial survey, and a neuroimaging assessment). Participants will complete neuroimaging tasks (where they will be presented with words, pictures, and sounds) before and after receiving the MBSR intervention, which will assess neural activity and regulation responses before and after mindfulness meditation training.

Enrollment

40 patients

Sex

All

Ages

55 to 85 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

English-speaking adults between the ages of 55-85 years of age at time of entry
post-menopausal and not pregnant (women only)
Accessible geographically and willing to come to UCLA for all study related activities

Exclusion criteria

they have regularly (>1 time per week) practiced a mind-body therapy anytime in the last six months (e.g., meditation, yoga, tai chi)
are not ambulatory, (c) indicate any treatment for mental health problems in the last six months
indicate any major physical health problems in the last three months
use medications affecting cardiovascular or endocrine function
are left-handed
or have metal in their bodies (including pacemakers and permanent piercings (e.g., bellyrings), but not dental fillings)
indicate regular use of psychotropic medication or psychotherapy in the last six months
cognitive impairment as indicated by a score lower than 23 on the Mini-Mental State examination
smokers
indicate feeling claustrophobic in confined spaces, such as an fMRI scanner
weigh over 300 lbs
indicate any use of doctor prescribed cholesterol lowering medications (e.g., statins)
use any doctor prescribed pain medication
indicate any implants