Cognitive, psychological, and physiological effects of a web-based mindfulness intervention in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: an open study
Abstract Background The development of effective strategies to maintain good mental health of older adults is a public health priority. Mindfulness-based interventions have the potential to improve psychological well-being and cognitive functions of older adults, but little is known about the effect...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-04766-z |
| _version_ | 1827326251894833152 |
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| author | Samantha Galluzzi Mariangela Lanfredi Davide Vito Moretti Roberta Rossi Serena Meloni Evita Tomasoni Giovanni B. Frisoni Alberto Chiesa Michela Pievani |
| author_facet | Samantha Galluzzi Mariangela Lanfredi Davide Vito Moretti Roberta Rossi Serena Meloni Evita Tomasoni Giovanni B. Frisoni Alberto Chiesa Michela Pievani |
| author_sort | Samantha Galluzzi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The development of effective strategies to maintain good mental health of older adults is a public health priority. Mindfulness-based interventions have the potential to improve psychological well-being and cognitive functions of older adults, but little is known about the effect of such interventions when delivered through internet. During the COVID-19 pandemic we evaluated short- and long-term cognitive, psychological, and physiological effects of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) delivered via web-based videoconference in healthy older adults. Methods Fifty older adults participated in an 8-week MBI, which comprised structured 2-h weekly group sessions. A comprehensive evaluation encompassing cognitive (verbal memory, attention and processing speed, executive functions) and psychological assessments (depression and anxiety symptoms, mindfulness, worries, emotion regulation strategies, well-being, interoceptive awareness and sleep) was conducted. Additionally, electroencephalography (EEG) data were recorded before and after the MBI and at the 6-month follow-up (T6). Data were analyzed using an intention-to-treat approach, using linear mixed models adjusted for age. The effect size for time was computed as omega squared. Results We observed significant improvements from pre-MBI to post-MBI and at the T6 across several measures. These improvements were notable in the areas of verbal memory (California Verbal Learning Test, p ≤ .007), attention and executive functions (Trail Making Test A and BA, p < .050), interoceptive awareness (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, p = .0002 for self-regulation and p < .05 for noticing, body listening, and trusting dimensions), and rumination (Heidelberg Form for Emotion Regulation Strategies, p = .018). These changes were associated with low to medium effect size. Moreover, we observed significant changes in EEG patterns, with a decrease in alpha1 (p = .004) and an increase in alpha2 (p < .0001) from pre-MBI to T6. Notably, improvements in TMTBA and rumination were correlated with the decrease in alpha1 (p < .050), while improvements in TMTA were linked to the increase in alpha2 (p = .025). Conclusions The results of our study show that a web-based MBI in older adults leads to improvements in cognitive and psychological measures, with associated modulations in specific brain rhythms. While these findings are promising, further controlled studies are required to validate these preliminary results. Trial registration The trial has been registered with the United States National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health Registry of Clinical Trials under the code NCT05941143 on July 12, 2023. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:41:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b0a411ce01d4a48bee5378e641d089a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:41:50Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b0a411ce01d4a48bee5378e641d089a2024-03-05T20:12:25ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182024-02-0124111610.1186/s12877-024-04766-zCognitive, psychological, and physiological effects of a web-based mindfulness intervention in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: an open studySamantha Galluzzi0Mariangela Lanfredi1Davide Vito Moretti2Roberta Rossi3Serena Meloni4Evita Tomasoni5Giovanni B. Frisoni6Alberto Chiesa7Michela Pievani8Laboratory Alzheimer’s Neuroimaging and Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio FatebenefratelliUnit of Psychiatry, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio FatebenefratelliAlzheimer’s Rehabilitation Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio FatebenefratelliUnit of Psychiatry, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio FatebenefratelliUnit of Psychiatry, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio FatebenefratelliLaboratory Alzheimer’s Neuroimaging and Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio FatebenefratelliUniversity Hospitals and University of GenevaIstituto Mente E CorpoLaboratory Alzheimer’s Neuroimaging and Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio FatebenefratelliAbstract Background The development of effective strategies to maintain good mental health of older adults is a public health priority. Mindfulness-based interventions have the potential to improve psychological well-being and cognitive functions of older adults, but little is known about the effect of such interventions when delivered through internet. During the COVID-19 pandemic we evaluated short- and long-term cognitive, psychological, and physiological effects of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) delivered via web-based videoconference in healthy older adults. Methods Fifty older adults participated in an 8-week MBI, which comprised structured 2-h weekly group sessions. A comprehensive evaluation encompassing cognitive (verbal memory, attention and processing speed, executive functions) and psychological assessments (depression and anxiety symptoms, mindfulness, worries, emotion regulation strategies, well-being, interoceptive awareness and sleep) was conducted. Additionally, electroencephalography (EEG) data were recorded before and after the MBI and at the 6-month follow-up (T6). Data were analyzed using an intention-to-treat approach, using linear mixed models adjusted for age. The effect size for time was computed as omega squared. Results We observed significant improvements from pre-MBI to post-MBI and at the T6 across several measures. These improvements were notable in the areas of verbal memory (California Verbal Learning Test, p ≤ .007), attention and executive functions (Trail Making Test A and BA, p < .050), interoceptive awareness (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, p = .0002 for self-regulation and p < .05 for noticing, body listening, and trusting dimensions), and rumination (Heidelberg Form for Emotion Regulation Strategies, p = .018). These changes were associated with low to medium effect size. Moreover, we observed significant changes in EEG patterns, with a decrease in alpha1 (p = .004) and an increase in alpha2 (p < .0001) from pre-MBI to T6. Notably, improvements in TMTBA and rumination were correlated with the decrease in alpha1 (p < .050), while improvements in TMTA were linked to the increase in alpha2 (p = .025). Conclusions The results of our study show that a web-based MBI in older adults leads to improvements in cognitive and psychological measures, with associated modulations in specific brain rhythms. While these findings are promising, further controlled studies are required to validate these preliminary results. Trial registration The trial has been registered with the United States National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health Registry of Clinical Trials under the code NCT05941143 on July 12, 2023.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-04766-zOlder adultsMindfulnessWeb videoconferenceCognitivePsychologicalEEG |
| spellingShingle | Samantha Galluzzi Mariangela Lanfredi Davide Vito Moretti Roberta Rossi Serena Meloni Evita Tomasoni Giovanni B. Frisoni Alberto Chiesa Michela Pievani Cognitive, psychological, and physiological effects of a web-based mindfulness intervention in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: an open study BMC Geriatrics Older adults Mindfulness Web videoconference Cognitive Psychological EEG |
| title | Cognitive, psychological, and physiological effects of a web-based mindfulness intervention in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: an open study |
| title_full | Cognitive, psychological, and physiological effects of a web-based mindfulness intervention in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: an open study |
| title_fullStr | Cognitive, psychological, and physiological effects of a web-based mindfulness intervention in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: an open study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cognitive, psychological, and physiological effects of a web-based mindfulness intervention in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: an open study |
| title_short | Cognitive, psychological, and physiological effects of a web-based mindfulness intervention in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: an open study |
| title_sort | cognitive psychological and physiological effects of a web based mindfulness intervention in older adults during the covid 19 pandemic an open study |
| topic | Older adults Mindfulness Web videoconference Cognitive Psychological EEG |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-04766-z |
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