Mindfulness Training in Healthy Older Veterans (MTGHOV)

VA Office of Research and Development

Status: Completed

Conditions: Aging

Treatments: Behavioral: Brain Health; Behavioral: Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT02816723

E2398-P

Details and patient eligibility

About

Evidence shows the positive effects of Brain Health & Wellness classes in younger individuals. The proposed study investigates the usefulness of these classes in older Veterans aged 50-85. We hope to show that such classes can lead to improvements in both thinking skills as well as stress levels.

Full description

The expansion of the aging Veteran population, in addition to the frequent presence of comorbidities (e.g., PTSD and TBI) that exacerbate age-associated cognitive and health declines, has generated substantial interest in interventions that promote brain health in older Veterans. A growing body of evidence shows the positive effects of Brain Health & Wellness classes on brain health in younger and middle-aged adults, thus training might be able to enhance brain health in older Veterans and offset age-related declines. Such training holds particular promise in enhancing areas of cognition that are especially susceptible to aging processes (e.g. attention and executive control), potentially through multiple mechanistic pathways. It is in many respects a cognitive exercise and may strengthen neural networks involved in such processes. Additionally, there is evidence for further facilitating brain health in other ways related to, for instance, altering the stress response. Currently, there is little information regarding the potential brain health benefits in older adults. As a first step to understanding these potential beneficial effects in Veterans, the aim of the proposed pilot study is to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility and potential efficacy of two Brain Health & Wellness classes in healthy older Veterans through a randomized, controlled trial.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50 to 85 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Subjects will be Veterans age 50-85

Exclusion criteria

• moderate or severe TBI

• active alcohol or drug dependence or abuse by DSM-5 criteria (within previous 30 days)

• positive urine drug screen for illicit substances

• history of schizophrenia

• ADHD

• learning disability

• dementia

• Mild Cognitive Impairment and/or other psychiatric disturbances not including PTSD and/or depression

• participants with a history of psychiatric hospitalization (last five years)

• suicide attempt (last five years)

• imminent risk for suicidal or homicidal behavior, or severe medical illness requiring treatment will be excluded

• subjects with a history of neurological diagnosis, e.g.,:

  • brain tumor
  • clinical stroke
  • seizure

• Mini-Mental Status Exam score below 19 (suggesting moderate/severe cognitive impairment, a contraindication to MBSR participation) will be excluded

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Mindfulness

Experimental group

Description:

mindfulness/meditation/movement training

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction

Brain Health

Active Comparator group

Description:

Brain Health education class

Treatment:

Behavioral: Brain Health