title: Mindfulness in the Maintenance of Cognitive Capacities in Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Canary Islands longitudinal study on non-pharmacological treatments showed the overall effectiveness of mindfulness in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, no specific data on the maintenance of cognitive capacities were presented.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the practice of mindfulness modifies the course of cognitive impairment in AD.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal, non-inferiority and equivalence, randomized clinical trial, repeated-measures design, with three experimental groups and one control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with AD who voluntarily attended the Lidia García Foundation (n = 502). Only those who were treated with donepezil and MMSE ≥18 were included (n = 120).
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a two-year period, each group carried out three weekly sessions of stimulation based on mindfulness, cognitive stimulation therapy, and progressive muscle relaxation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cognitive assessment CAMDEX-R (MMSE and CAMCOG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Repeated-measures ANOVA (p <  0.05) and the effect size Cohen's d were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mindfulness group showed significant scores compared with the control and muscle relaxation groups (p <  0.05), while mindfulness and cognitive stimulation therapy were equivalent (p≥0.05). Group cognitive stimulation evolved better than the control (p <  0.05) group but not better than the muscle relaxation group (p≥0.05). The effect size compared over two years was large for the mindfulness group (p≥0.80), moderate for the relaxation group (p≥0.50), and low for the cognitive stimulation group (p≥0.20).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The practice of mindfulness maintained cognitive function over a period of two years. This longitudinal study suggests that mindfulness can be used as a non-pharmacological treatment to slow cognitive impairment in AD.
authors.affiliation: Mindfulness and Health Research Group, La Laguna University and ISCAN Servicios Integrales, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Domingo J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Quintana-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, La Laguna University, Spain.
authors.forename: María T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Miró-Barrachina
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, La Laguna University, Spain.
authors.forename: Ignacio J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Ibáñez-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Mathematics Department, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria University, Spain.
authors.forename: Angelo Santana-Del
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Pino
authors.affiliation: Mathematics Department, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria University, Spain.
authors.forename: María P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Quintana-Montesdeoca
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria University, Spain.
authors.forename: Bienvenida
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-de Vera
authors.affiliation: Mindfulness and Health Research Group, La Laguna University, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morales-Casanova
authors.affiliation: Doctor Negrín University Hospital of Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: María Del Carmen
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Pérez-Vieitez
authors.affiliation: Nursing home El Pino, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-García
authors.affiliation: Nursing home El Pino, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Noelia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bravo-Caraduje
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; cognitive impairment; cognitive stimulation therapy; mindfulness; non-pharmacological treatments; progressive muscle relaxation