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The primary aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between meditation experience and repetitive negative thinking (RNT) in regular meditators with a wide range of experience, and to examine the extent to which self-compassion and mindfulness mediate this relationship. RNT is a transdiagnostic process that is implicated in the development and maintenance of several mental health disorders. Converging evidence suggests that meditation practice is associated with improved mental health and may reduce levels of RNT. Increased levels of self-compassion and mindfulness have been associated with decreased levels of RNT and proposed as theoretically consistent mediators by which meditation practice exerts its beneficial effects; however, they are seldom considered in combination. In a cross-sectional design, 1281 meditators (mean age = 44.7 years, SD = 13.9, 53.7% female) completed questionnaires about meditation experience, RNT, self-compassion, and mindfulness. Linear regression and generalised structural equation models were used to examine the data. Longer duration of meditation experience was associated with lower levels of RNT and higher levels of self-compassion and mindfulness. Meditation experience was associated with RNT indirectly through self-compassion, but not through mindfulness. The results offer preliminary support for longer-term meditation as a potential means for reducing the maladaptive process of RNT. Clinically, self-compassion could be identified as a promising treatment target for interventions., Author(s): Marco Schlosser [sup.1] , Rebecca Jones [sup.1] , Harriet Demnitz-King [sup.1] , Natalie L. Marchant [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.83440.3b, 0000000121901201, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University [...]

Background: Psychological factors such as repetitive negative thinking, proneness to experience distress, and perceived stress are associated with increased risk of neurodegeneration and clinical dementia, whereas having a sense of life‐purpose, self‐reflection, and dispositional mindfulness may be protective. However, whether combinations of these risk and protective factors may inform distinct psychological profiles, which may be differential associated with age‐related health outcomes is currently unknown. Method: We included 742 middle‐aged (mean age 51.4 (SD:7.0), 51.1% women) healthy individuals from the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative. All participants underwent a psychological assessment of individual risk and protective factors based on previous literature (Figure 1). An initial 3T MRI was acquired for all participants, with follow‐up MRIs conducted for 533 participants (average follow‐up 2.3 years). Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify statistically distinct psychological profiles from risk and protective factors and MRIs were automatically processed with FreeSurfer v6.0 (maps p < 0.05, corrected for family‐wise error). Result: LPA revealed a 3‐profile solution: Profile 1 (n = 190, 25.6%) was characterized by lower levels of positive or protective psychological factors; Profile 2 included individuals showing higher negative or psychological risk factors (n = 149, 20.1%); and Profile 3 reported high protective and moderately low risk factors (n = 403, 50.3%; Figure 1). Age‐, gender‐, and education‐adjusted results revealed that compared to Profile 3, individuals in Profile 1 exhibited accelerated cortical thinning in the inferior and middle temporal areas, including regions within the AD cortical thinning signature. In models additionally adjusted for anxiety and depressive symptoms, Profile 1 also exhibited greater cortical thinning over time in the inferior temporal lobe region compared to Profile 2 (Figure 2A and B). Conclusion: Using a person‐centered approach to identify statistically distinct psychological profiles we found that already in middle‐age, those with lower levels of protective factors (Profile 1) exhibit accelerated cortical atrophy. This emphasizes the need for comprehensive psychological assessments in dementia prevention research, including the assessment of 'protective' factors in addition to the more commonly assessed 'risk' factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is associated with cognitive changes, even in the absence of brain pathology. This study aimed to determine if meditation training, by comparison to active and passive control groups, is linked to changes in the perception of cognitive functioning in older adults. One hundred thirty-four healthy older participants from the Age-Well Randomized Clinical Trial were included: 45 followed a meditation training, 45 a non-native language training and 44 had no intervention. Subjective cognition was assessed at baseline and following the 18-month intervention period. Perception of attentional efficiency was assessed using internal and external Attentional Style Questionnaire (ASQ) subscale scores. Perception of global cognitive capacities was measured via the total score of Cognitive Difficulties Scale (CDS). Deltas ([posttest minus pretest scores]/standard deviation at pretest) were calculated for the analyses. Generalized mixed effects models controlling for age, sex, education and baseline scores revealed that meditation training decreased the vulnerability score toward external distractors measured by the ASQ compared to non-native language training. However, no between-groups differences on ASQ internal or CDS total scores were observed. Results suggest a beneficial effect of meditation practice on perceived management of external distracting information in daily life. Meditation training may cultivate the ability to focus on specific information (e.g., breath) and ignore stimulation from other kinds of stimuli (e.g., noise). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mental health conditions are associated with cognition and physical function in older adults. We examined whether worry and ruminative brooding, key symptoms of certain mental health conditions, are related to subjective and/or objective measures of cognitive and physical (cardiovascular) health. Methods: We used baseline data from 282 participants from the SCD-Well and Age-Well trials (178 female; agemean = 71.1 years). We measured worry and ruminative brooding using the Penn State Worry Questionnaire and the Ruminative Response Scale-brooding subscale. We assessed subjective physical health using the WHOQOL-Bref physical subscale, and objective physical health via blood pressure and modified versions of the Framingham Risk Score and Charlson Comorbidity Index. With subjective and objective cognition, we utilized the Cognitive Difficulties Scale and a global composite (modified Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite, PACC5, with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV, category fluency, Mattis Dementia Rating Scale-2, and either the California Verbal Learning Test or the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test). We conducted linear regressions, adjusted for education, age, sex and cohort. Results: Worry and ruminative brooding were negatively associated with subjective physical health (worry: ß = -0.245, 95%CI -0.357 to -0.133, p < 0.001; ruminative brooding: ß = -0.224, 95%CI -0.334 to -0.113, p < 0.001) and subjective cognitive difficulties (worry: ß = 0.196, 95%CI 0.091 to 0.302, p < 0.001; ruminative brooding: ß = 0.239, 95%CI 0.133 to 0.346, p < 0.001). We did not observe associations between worry or ruminative brooding and any measure of objective health. Discussion: Worry and ruminative brooding may be common mechanisms associated with subjective but not objective health. Alternatively, cognitively unimpaired older adults may become aware of subtle changes not captured by objective measures used in this study. Interventions reducing worry and ruminative brooding may promote subjective physical and cognitive health; however, more research is needed to determine causality of the relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non‐pharmacological interventions are a potential strategy to maintain or promote cognitive functioning in older adults. We investigated the effects of 18‐months meditation or non‐native language training versus no intervention on cognition in older adults. Method: Age‐Well was an observer‐blind, randomised, controlled clinical trial with three parallel arms. Cognitively healthy adults aged ≥ 65 years and were recruited in France. Participants were randomised (1:1:1) to a meditation training, non‐native language (English) training, or a no intervention group for 18 months. Cognition (a pre‐specified secondary outcome) was assessed pre‐ and post‐intervention via the Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite 5 (PACC5), and composites assessing episodic memory, executive function, and attention. Linear mixed models, adjusted for age, sex, and education, evaluated cognitive changes between arms. Baseline neocortical amyloid deposition was added as a fixed effect in a sensitivity analysis. Additional sensitivity analyses assessed intervention effects for participants who attended at least 20% of intervention classes or were classified as 'responders'. Results: 137 participants were randomly assigned to meditation training (n = 45), non‐native language training (n = 46), or no intervention (n = 46). Two participants were excluded for not meeting eligibility criteria, and one died during follow‐up (Figure 1). A positive effect of non‐native language training was observed on episodic memory relative to the no intervention group (0·32 [95% CI: 0·04‐0·61], p = 0·025), and on PACC5 scores compared to meditation training (0·33 [95% CI: 0·01‐0·66], p = 0·045; Figure 2). In sensitivity analyses, neither the inclusion of amyloid as an additional covariate nor the exclusion of participants who attended <20% of intervention classes affected results. Following exclusion of 'non‐responders', evidence for beneficial effects (relative to the no intervention group) on episodic memory became significant for meditation training (0·33 [0·01, 0·66]), and was weakened for non‐native language training (0·30 [‐0·02, 0·62]). No other between‐group differences emerged. Conclusion: Among cognitively healthy older adults, there was limited evidence for positive effects of 18‐months meditation training on cognition. However, in addition to having real‐life utility, non‐native language learning in late life may have beneficial effects on cognitive domains affected early in Alzheimer's disease. Studies investigating whether these effects are long‐lasting are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) recruited from memory clinics have an increased risk of developing dementia and regularly experience reduced psychological well-being related to memory concerns and fear of dementia. Research on improving well-being in SCD is limited and lacks non-pharmacological approaches. We investigated whether mindfulness-based and health education interventions can enhance well-being in SCD. Methods: The SCD-Well trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03005652) randomised 147 older adults with SCD to an 8-week caring mindfulness-based approach for seniors (CMBAS) or an active comparator (health self-management programme [HSMP]). Well-being was assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-month post-randomisation using the Psychological Well-being Scale (PWBS), the World Health Organisation's Quality of Life (QoL) Assessment psychological subscale, and composites capturing meditation-based well-being dimensions of awareness, connection, and insight. Mixed effects models were used to assess between- and within-group differences in change. Results: CMBAS was superior to HSMP on changes in connection at post-intervention. Within both groups, PWBS total scores, psychological QoL, and composite scores did not increase. Exploratory analyses indicated increases in PWBS autonomy at post-intervention in both groups. Conclusion: Two non-pharmacological interventions were associated with only limited effects on psychological well-being in SCD. Longer intervention studies with waitlist/retest control groups are needed to assess if our findings reflect intervention brevity and/or minimal base rate changes in well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent fatigue constitutes a prevalent and debilitating symptom in several diseases. The symptom is not effectively alleviated by pharmaceutical treatments, and meditation has been proposed as a non-pharmacological intervention. Indeed, meditation has been shown to reduce inflammatory/immune problems, pain, stress, anxiety and depression which are associated with pathological fatigue. This review synthesizes data from randomized control trials (RCTs) that explored the effect of meditation-based interventions (MeBIs) on fatigue in pathological conditions. Eight databases were searched from inception to April 2020. Thirty-four RCTs met eligibility criteria and covered six conditions (68% cancer), 32 of which were included in the metaanalysis. The main analysis showed an effect in favor of MeBIs compared to control groups (g = 0.62). Separate moderator analyses assessing control group, pathological condition, and MeBI type, highlighted a significantly moderating role of the control group. Indeed, compared to actively controlled studies, studies using a passive control group were associated with a statistically significantly more beneficial impact of the MeBIs (g = 0.83). These results indicate that MeBIs alleviate pathological fatigue and it seems that the studies with a passive control group showed a greater effect of MeBI on the reduction of fatigue compared to studies using active control groups. However, the specific effect of meditation type and pathological condition should be analyzed with more studies, and there remains a need to assess meditation effects on different types of fatigue (i.e., physical and mental) and in additional conditions (e.g., post-COVID-19). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Lifetime of Experiences questionnaire (LEQ, Valenzuela and Sachdev, 2007) is an instrument that comprehensively assesses mental activity (education/occupation and leisure activities) across the lifespan (13‐30, 30‐65, 65‐present). The LEQ has been associated with brain health outcomes and cognitive decline. Challenges for the use of this questionnaire across countries include the different education systems and occupation classifications. The objectives of this study were to (1) harmonize the LEQ across Spain, United Kingdom (UK), France and Germany, (2) assess its correlation with a similar tool and (3) assess between‐country differences. Method: The LEQ was administered to 359 cognitively unimpaired older adults (age: 71.2 ± 6 years, education: 13.2 ± 3.5 years) from IMAP+ and Medit‐Ageing European projects. The original scale was translated from English to Spanish, French and German by a professional translation service and iteratively edited by native speakers. Education systems and classification of occupations were harmonized considering between‐country differences and in line with international guidelines. Scoring guidelines were adapted to allow between‐country comparison. We performed Pearson correlations with a similar instrument, the Cognitive Activities Questionnaire (CAQ, Wilson et al., 2003). Between‐country differences were assessed using ANOVA models. Result: There were no between‐country differences in participant's age and education (p>0.1). Between and within countries, the total LEQ score showed moderate to strong associations with the total CAQ score (full sample: r=0.48, Spain: r=0.74, UK: r=0.56, France: r=0.46, all p<0.001; Germany: r=0.41, p<0.05) (Figure 1). Correlation coefficients between the CAQ and LEQ were stronger within (all r>0.35) than between (all r≤0.35) periods. We observed between‐countries differences in lifespan mental activities (p=0.019, Spain > France and Germany > France), notably, during young adulthood (p=0.01, Germany > France) and late life (p=0.01, Spain > UK, Spain > France) (Figure 2). These differences were explained by leisure activities engagement rather than by differences in education and occupation (p<0.001, Young adulthood and Midlife: Spain > UK & France, Germany > France; Late life: Spain > UK & France & Germany) (Figure 3). Conclusion: The harmonized LEQ allowed comparison of complex mental activities ‐ including education and occupation ‐ across countries and was related to another questionnaire measuring mental activity across the lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) denotes self‐reported cognitive concerns in the absence of objective cognitive impairment. Individuals with SCD convert to dementia at twice the annual rate of healthy controls, with relatively poorer cognition in SCD conferring additional risk. Non‐pharmacological interventions are currently undergoing intensive evaluation for promoting cognitive function in SCD. Method: This study utilized data from the SCD‐Well randomized controlled trial. One hundred forty‐seven older adults with SCD, recruited from clinics in four European countries, were randomized to one of two 8‐week non‐pharmacological interventions: the Caring Mindfulness‐Based Approach for Seniors (CMBAS), or a Health Self‐Management Program (HSMP). Participants' objective cognitive performance was assessed at baseline, post‐intervention, and 24‐weeks follow‐up using a battery of tests. Four of these (RAVLT, WAIS‐IV Coding, Mattis DRS‐2 and Category Fluency) were combined to yield an abridged version of the Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite 5 (PACC5Abridged). Linear mixed models estimated the change in outcome measures (the PACC5Abridged and its constituents) within and between arms. All models were adjusted for country and participant demographics (sex, age, and education), as well as the time‐varying effect of participants' repeated practice with the outcome measures. Result: There was a statistically significant improvement in the PACC5Abridged in both arms of the trial (p<.001), which did not differ between groups. The mean change in PACC5Abridged from baseline to 24‐weeks was 0.28 for CMBAS, and 0.22 for HSMP (pooled baseline SD 0.72). The effect of participants' repeated practice on the PACC5Abridged was non‐significant, ruling out retest effects as a substantive explanation for results. Amongst the PACC5Abridged constituent tests, significant improvement was observed in the RAVLT and WAIS‐IV Coding. Conclusion: This clinical trial evaluated the effect of two 8‐week non‐pharmacological interventions on objective cognitive performance in SCD. Scores on a composite measure of early Alzheimer's disease related cognitive dysfunction improved in both arms, even after accounting for practice effects. These results paralleled those of the primary outcome measure (trait anxiety), for which scores also improved in both arms. This work adds to the growing body of evidence that non‐pharmacological interventions can impact cognition in individuals at increased risk of dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]