Date of Award
5-20-2016
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Medical Science (MMSc)
First Advisor
Emily Sharp, PhD
Abstract
The prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s Disease, amnestic mild cognitive impairment, is characterized by subjective and objective memory impairment beginning with episodic memory. Few treatments have been identified to effectively slow disease progression to dementia. Meditation is an emerging novel treatment to improve deficits in subjects with these progressive cognitive impairments. Meditation and other novel treatments are critical for prolonging patients’ independence, reducing caregiver burden, and healthcare costs. This study will examine the effectiveness of an eight-week intervention using two meditation methods and two control groups on cognition and mood in participants with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. The primary outcome is episodic memory. Secondary outcomes include verbal fluency, executive function, working memory, and mood symptoms. We believe meditation interventions are low-cost, safe, easily implemented interventions that could improve cognition and mood symptoms in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment through induced changes within the Default Mode Network.
Recommended Citation
Richards, Emily K., "Meditation Interventions in Subjects with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment" (2016). Yale School of Medicine Physician Associate Program Theses. 73.
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ysmpa_theses/73
