Mindfulness for Alzheimer's Disease

(MLX Trial)

Overseen By Diana Parra Perez, Ph.D.

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine

Must not be taking: Psychedelics, Cholinesterase inhibitors

Disqualifiers: Psychiatric disorder, Cancer, Parkinson's, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

60 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how mindfulness—a meditation practice focusing on presence and awareness—can improve brain health and possibly reduce Alzheimer's risk in older Latinx adults. The researchers aim to determine if regular mindfulness practice serves as a beneficial lifestyle choice for maintaining a sharp and healthy mind. They seek Latinx individuals aged 65 and older who live in the community, lack extensive mindfulness training, and are medically stable. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to groundbreaking research on mindfulness and brain health.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are using cognitive training programs or certain medications like psychedelics, cholinesterase inhibitors, or high-dose sedatives, you may not be eligible to participate.

What prior data suggests that mindfulness is safe for enhancing cognitive health in Latinx older adults?

Research has shown that mindfulness training is safe and may benefit people at risk of Alzheimer's disease. Studies indicate that mindfulness can improve quality of life and help prevent symptoms from worsening in patients with early-stage Alzheimer's. Additionally, mindfulness practices have been linked to better thinking skills and may slow mental decline.

Mindfulness is generally safe and well-tolerated. It includes activities like meditation and focused breathing, which have no known harmful side effects. Unlike medications, mindfulness does not carry the risk of physical side effects, making it a safe choice for many. Overall, mindfulness appears to be a promising and safe way to support brain health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using mindfulness for Alzheimer's disease because it offers a non-drug approach to managing symptoms. Unlike standard treatments that often rely on medications to slow memory loss or manage behavioral changes, mindfulness focuses on enhancing mental well-being through techniques like meditation and deep breathing. This approach is unique because it aims to improve quality of life without the side effects associated with pharmaceutical interventions. Additionally, mindfulness could potentially empower patients by giving them tools to manage stress and cognitive decline actively.

What evidence suggests that mindfulness might be an effective treatment for Alzheimer's?

Research has shown that practicing mindfulness can help maintain brain health, particularly for those at risk of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Previous studies found that mindfulness activities, such as meditation, can improve quality of life and slow symptom progression in individuals with early-stage Alzheimer's. Meditation also enhanced thinking skills in those with mild memory problems. Additionally, mindfulness is associated with less memory decline and lower levels of harmful brain proteins linked to AD. These findings suggest that mindfulness could be a promising approach to reducing the risk of Alzheimer's and supporting better brain health. ^{1 3 5 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Latinx older adults aged 65 and above who are medically stable, live in the community, and have no extensive mindfulness training. It's open to all genders but excludes those with substance abuse issues, unstable psychiatric disorders requiring immediate treatment, life-shortening medical conditions, sensory impairments that prevent participation, or current cognitive training.

Inclusion Criteria

Community living

Medically stable and willing to undergo the study procedures

No extensive mindfulness training experience

Exclusion Criteria

Current alcohol or substance abuse

I do not have a severe mental health condition needing urgent treatment.

I do not have any health conditions that significantly shorten my life or prevent safe study participation.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete a baseline assessment protocol, including EEG and cognitive tasks

1-2 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

Mindfulness Training

Participants receive 8 weeks of mindfulness training, including weekly classes and daily EMA prompts

8 weeks

8 visits (in-person or online), daily EMA prompts

Post-Intervention Assessment

Participants repeat the assessment protocol to evaluate changes in cognitive and mindfulness measures

1-2 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Mindfulness

Trial Overview The study is testing whether mindfulness training can help improve cognitive health and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's Disease in Latinx older adults. Participants will undergo mindfulness interventions designed to assess their impact on brain function related to memory and attention.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Washington University School of Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,027

Recruited

2,353,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10046197/

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) in ... Conclusions MBI training is effective in increasing quality of life and preventing worsening in patients with early-stage Alzheimer's dementia.

2. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1524898/full

Meditation for subjective cognitive decline, mild ... Pooled analysis showed that meditation significantly improved cognitive performance among individuals with SCD, MCI, and AD, consistent with ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4923750/

Stress, Meditation, and Alzheimer's Disease Prevention Research suggests that KK enhances memory and reduces AD risk by improving sleep, decreasing depression, increasing well-being, down regulating inflammatory ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667174322000052

Trait Mindfulness Is Associated With Less Amyloid, Tau ... Trait mindfulness was associated with less cognitive decline and less Aβ and tau in the brain in older adults at risk for AD dementia.

5. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-024-02374-x

Effect of an 8-Week Mindfulness Meditation Training ... The results suggest that 8-week mindfulness training can effectively reduce psychological distress and anxiety symptoms in caregivers of people with Alzheimer' ...

6. researchprotocols.org researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e64149

A Mindfulness-Based Lifestyle Intervention for Dementia ... Our primary outcomes are feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness, credibility, satisfaction, and fidelity benchmarks. The secondary outcomes ...

7. news.med.miami.edu news.med.miami.edu/new-research-shows-increased-mindfulness-in-both-patients-and-caregivers-may-improve-dementia-outcomes/

New Research Shows Increased Mindfulness in Both Patients ... Alzheimer's disease patients who practice mindfulness may have better outcomes than those who do not. “A patient's baseline mindfulness ...