Cognitive, psychological, and neurophysiological effects of a web-based mindfulness intervention in older adults
Description
The study aims to evaluate cognitive, psychological, and physiological effects of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) delivered via web-based videoconference in 50 healthy older adults. This study was an open trial. We have not prespecified outcomes due to the exploratory design of the study. Fifty novice mindfulness practitioners were consecutively enrolled. The mean age of 50 older adults participating in MBI was 69.9+5.1 years. They were in prevalence female (74%) and highly educated (14.2+5.2 years). A comprehensive cognitive (verbal memory, attention and processing speed, executive functions) and psychological (depression and anxiety symptoms, mindfulness, worries, emotion regulation strategies, well-being, interoceptive awareness and sleep) evaluation and EEG recording were collected pre- and post-MBI and at 6-month follow-up (T6). We found significant improvement from pre-MBI to post-MBI and T6 on measures of verbal memory (California Verbal Learning Test), attention and executive functions (Trail Making test), interoceptive awareness (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness), and rumination (Heidelberg Form for Emotion Regulation Strategies). EEG alpha1 significantly decreased and alpha2 significantly increased from pre-MBI to T6. The improvement of TMTBA and rumination correlated with alpha1 decrease and the improvement of TMTA with alpha2 increase. The database report cognitive, psychological, and EEG variables at pre-, post-MBI and 6-month follow-up. Data dictionary is included.