Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Background: In the last decade, new treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) failed to offer effective, long-lasting solutions, which stimulated the development of prevention-based approaches. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) promote the training of attention and a non-reactive attitude through mindfulness meditation and philosophy. Such holistic methods show great potential against problematic aging that could lead to AD. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a MBI in targeting memory losses, depressive mood, and quality of life, compared to control condition, in older adults living with mild cognitive impairments (MCI). Methods: Older adults with either participated in a 8-week MBI (n=11) or control (CTRL; n=11) condition, which informed about memory and aging. Before and after their participation in the interventions, they were administered a memory test, a questionnaire assessing depression, and a questionnaire assessing quality of life. Results: Participants, of which 36.4% were women, were aged between 56 and 87 (mean=71.6), with a mean education level of 13.6 years. Ten participants in each condition completed the study. There was no previous difference between groups in terms of age, education level, and gender distribution. Compared to the control group, the MBI group showed less objective memory deterioration after the intervention, a greater decrease in depressive symptoms and increased quality of life. Conclusion: These preliminary findings indicate that MBI can help preventing memory decline and improving mood and quality of life in older adults with MCI. These results support the effectiveness of MBI in buffering against pathological aging.