| Popis: |
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESMindfulness, defined as non-judgmental awareness of the present moment, has been associated with an array of mental and physical health benefits, including improved cognitive functioning and changes to brain structure and function. Mindfulness may also represent a protective factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we tested the potential protective effect of trait mindfulness on cognitive decline and AD pathology in older adults at risk for AD dementia.METHODSTwo hundred sixty-one nondemented older adults with a family history of AD dementia were included from the PREVENT-AD observational cohort study, including 124 with Aβ- and tau-positron emission tomography (PET) scans. All participants completed measures of trait mindfulness and longitudinal cognitive assessments. Multivariate partial least squares analyses were used to examine relationships between combinations of different facets of trait mindfulness and (1) cognitive decline, (2) Aβ, and (3) tau.RESULTSHigher levels of mindful nonjudgment, describing, and nonreactivity were associated with less cognitive decline in attention, global cognition, and immediate and delayed memory. Higher levels of mindful nonjudgment and nonreactivity were related to less Aβ-PET signal in bilateral medial and lateral temporoparietal and frontal regions. Higher levels of mindful acting with awareness, describing, nonjudgment, and nonreactivity were associated with less tau-PET signal in bilateral temporal regions, namely entorhinal cortex, amygdala, and parahippocampal, fusiform, and inferior temporal gyri. These relationships remained significant when additional demographic (age, sex, education and APOE status) and psychological (personality traits and neuropsychiatric symptoms) were included in analyses. When mindfulness, personality traits, and neuropsychiatric symptoms were entered into the same model, mindful nonjudgment showed the strongest association with cognitive decline and Aβ.DISCUSSIONTrait mindfulness is associated with less cognitive decline and less Aβ and tau in the brain in older adults at risk for AD dementia. In addition to its other health benefits, trait mindfulness may also represent a psychological protective factor for AD dementia. Longitudinal studies examining the temporal relationship between trait mindfulness and AD markers, along with mindfulness intervention studies with cognition and pathology as outcome variables, will be important for further clarifying the potential protective benefits of mindfulness on AD risk. |
