A Mindfulness-Based Lifestyle Intervention for Dementia Risk Reduction: Protocol for the My Healthy Brain Feasibility
Ryan A Mace1,2, Makenna E Law1, Joshua E Cohen1
1Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research (CHOIR), Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.
JMIR Research Protocols
|November 21, 2024
Summary
My Healthy Brain (MHB) is a mindfulness-based program showing promise in improving cognitive function and lifestyle behaviors in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Lifestyle behaviors and mindfulness positively impact cognitive function and may prevent Alzheimer disease and Alzheimer disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD).
- My Healthy Brain (MHB) is a novel mindfulness-based lifestyle program designed for older adults with subjective cognitive decline, targeting AD/ADRD risk factors.
- Pilot studies (NIH stage 1A) indicate MHB is feasible, acceptable, and improves lifestyle behaviors and cognitive outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the feasibility of MHB against a health enhancement program (HEP) control in older adults (≥60 years) with subjective cognitive decline and AD/ADRD risk factors.
- To evaluate feasibility benchmarks, cognitive and lifestyle outcome improvements, and the engagement of hypothesized mechanisms in an NIH stage 1B randomized controlled trial (RCT).
Main Methods:
- Recruitment via clinics, flyers, web platforms, and community partnerships.
- Randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing 8-week telehealth group delivery of MHB (mindfulness and behavior modification) versus HEP (lifestyle education and group support).
- Primary outcomes include feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness, credibility, satisfaction, and fidelity; secondary outcomes assess cognitive function and lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, sleep, nutrition, substance use, social activity).
Main Results:
- Recruitment initiated January 2024, with 225 inquiries and 40 eligible participants (17.8%).
- 21 participants enrolled in two cohorts; 9 (43%) completed MHB or HEP and post-intervention assessments.
- High adherence rates observed for wearable devices (87.1%) and daily surveys (86.1%); no enrolled participants have dropped out. Enrollment completion projected for December 2024.
Conclusions:
- The RCT will inform a larger efficacy trial (NIH stage 2) of MHB in a diverse sample, examining theoretically driven mediators and moderators of improvement.
- MHB's integration of mindfulness and lifestyle behavior change offers a potentially effective and sustainable strategy for AD/ADRD risk reduction in older adults.
Keywords:
brain healthcognitive declinedigital healthlifestylemind-body therapiesmindfulnessrandomized clinical trialtelemedicineMore Related Videos
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