Effects of a Loosening Meditation Practice on Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Study

Background Holistic medical practices, including meditation and mindfulness, are increasingly recognized for their benefits in mental health and stress reduction, with applications in clinical settings. However, their effects on older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) remain underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of loosening meditation, a brief and accessible practice we developed, on this population. Methods Nine older adults with MCI, defined by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores of 21-28 during the screening period, participated in this pilot study. The sessions of our loosening meditation were conducted weekly over four weeks. Cognitive function was assessed using the MMSE and the Revised Hasegawa's Dementia Scale (HDS-R), while psychological well-being was evaluated with the 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) and the Japanese version of the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology Mood Adjective Checklist (JUMACL). Serum levels of representative stress biomarkers were measured before and after the first meditation session. Results Participants had a mean age of 78.1 years (± 4.8 years) and a mean MMSE score of 25.1 points (± 2.5). These participants could complete all sessions safely. No significant differences were observed in MMSE, HDS-R, GHQ-30, or JUMACL (tension arousal) scores before and after the intervention. However, JUMACL (emotion arousal) scores significantly improved after the fourth session (pre-first, mean 25.3 ± 6.2; post-fourth, mean 28.7 ± 7.3; p = 0.004). Among these stress biomarkers, serum cortisol levels significantly decreased following the first session (before versus after, mean 10.8 ± 5.8 versus 7.4 ± 2.3 μg/dl; p = 0.04). Additionally, although not statistically significant, there was a trend towards a lower level of adrenaline after the first session (before versus after, mean 0.057 ± 0.026 versus 0.050 ± 0.027 ng/ml; p = 0.06). Conclusions Our loosening meditation was feasible, acceptable, and safe, and might enhance mood and reduce stress even in older adults with MCI. These preliminary findings suggest its potential as a supportive intervention for this population.