Reducing Risk for Alzheimer's Disease in High-Risk Women Through Yogic Meditation Training

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Alzheimer's Disease; Mild Cognitive Impairment

Treatments: Behavioral: Memory Training; Behavioral: Kundalini yoga and meditation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03503669

17-001876

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this pilot study will be to test whether Kundalini yoga (KY) and Kirtan Kriya (KK) yogic meditation is superior to Memory Enhancement Training (MET) for improving cognitive functioning, health (including cardiovascular factors), and mood in women with high AD risk.

Full description

Overall, the investigators anticipate recruiting 100 women (50 or older) with MCI and high Alzheimer's disease risk. Subjects will either receive: (1) MET class for 60 minutes per week; or (2) Kundalini yoga and "Kirtan Kriya" meditation class for 60 minutes per week. Assessments will be completed immediately after the interventions at 6 and 12 weeks and follow-up visits at week 24 and 48 to monitor the overall benefit of the intervention.

Enrollment: 100 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 50 to 90 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Amnestic MCI, as defined by a Clinical Dementia Rating Scale score of .5.

2. High cardiovascular risk defined as at least one of the following:

   • 7.5 percentile risk or higher using ASCVD risk calculator
   • Myocardial Infarction more than 6 months ago
   • Diabetes
   • Taking medication for blood pressure > 140/90 blood pressure
   • Taking medication for lyperlipidemia LDL >160

3. Sufficient English proficiency and the 8th grade or higher reading level as determined by the word reading subtest of the Wide Range Achievement Test-IV (this criterion is necessary in order to ensure ability to participate in MET, which involves reading and writing and has a Flesch-Kinkaid school equivalency of 7th grade)

4. Capacity to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

1. History of psychosis, bipolar disorder, alcohol/ drug dependence, or neurological disorder
2. Recent (within three months) surgery, anticipated surgery within next year, or unstable medical condition
3. Any disability preventing participation in MET or KK+KY (e.g., severe visual or hearing impairment)
4. Insufficient English proficiency to participate in either MET or KK+KY
5. Diagnosis of dementia
6. Mini Mental Health Examination score of 23 or below
7. Currently taking any psychoactive medication
8. Participation in a psychotherapy that involves cognitive training
9. Practice of Kundalini Yoga or Kirtan Kriya within the past year
10. Myocardial Infarction within the past 6 months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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100 participants in 2 patient groups

Memory Training

Active Comparator group

Description:

Group memory training will be administered for amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

Treatment:

Behavioral: Memory Training

Kundalini yoga and meditation

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will engage in weekly yoga classes and daily 12 minute meditation

Treatment:

Behavioral: Kundalini yoga and meditation