The purpose of this pilot study will be to test whether Kundalini yoga (KY) and Kirtan Kriya (KK) yogic meditation is superior to Memory Enhancement Training (MET) for improving cognitive functioning, health (including cardiovascular factors), and mood in women with high AD risk.
Overall, the investigators anticipate recruiting 100 women (50 or older) with MCI and high Alzheimer's disease risk. Subjects will either receive: (1) MET class for 60 minutes per week; or (2) Kundalini yoga and "Kirtan Kriya" meditation class for 60 minutes per week. Assessments will be completed immediately after the interventions at 6 and 12 weeks and follow-up visits at week 24 and 48 to monitor the overall benefit of the intervention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
100
Participants will attend a weekly memory training class for 12 weeks as well as receive daily memory homework (12 minute duration) for the 12 weeks.
Participants will participate in a 60 minute yoga and meditation session weekly for 12 weeks and will be assigned a daily Kirtan Kriya meditation (12 minute duration) for 12 weeks.
UCLA Semel Institute
Los Angeles, California, United States
Change in Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT) Total Recall Score
Verbal memory was measured with the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT) total recall scores. The HVLT form contains 12 nouns, four words each from one of three semantic categories (e.g., precious gems, articles of clothing, vegetables, etc.), to be learned over the course of three learning trials. When scoring the HVLT, the three learning trials are combined to calculate a total recall score. Total scores range from 0-36 with higher scores indicating better outcome.
Time frame: Measured at Baseline and Week 24
Change in Delayed Recall Cognitive Domain Scores
Delayed Recall Cognitive Domain score was constructed from: HVLT Delayed Recall, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test \[30-minute Delayed Recall\], WMS-IV Logical Memory II Delayed Recall. Raw scores were transformed to z-scores (with a mean of 0 and standard deviation of 1) for each test score of interest across all participants. A z-score of 0 represents the sample mean. These z-scores were then averaged to produce a Delayed Recall Cognitive Domain score. Higher Delayed Recall Cognitive Domain scores are indicative of better performance.
Time frame: Measured at Baseline and Week 24
Change in Executive Function Cognitive Domain Scores
Executive Function Cognitive Domain score was constructed from: Trail Making Test A and B, Stroop Interference \[Golden version\] and FAS. Raw scores were transformed to z-scores (with a mean of 0 and standard deviation of 1) for each test score of interest across all participants. A z-score of 0 represents the sample mean. These z-scores were then averaged to produce an Executive Function Cognitive Domain score. Higher Executive Function Cognitive Domain scores are indicative of better performance.
Time frame: Measured at Baseline and Week 24
Change in Memory Functioning Questionnaire (MFQ) Scale
Secondary outcome measures included the Memory Functioning Questionnaire (MFQ), a self-assessment scale. The MFQ is a scale that assesses subjective memory complaints. We will use the following MFQ subscales: General Frequency of Forgetting (MFQ factor 1), Seriousness of Forgetting (MFQ factor 2), and Retrospective Functions (MSQ factor 3). Each item is scored from 1 to 7 with higher scores indicating a higher level of perceived memory functioning. MSQ factor 1 (33 items) ranges from 7 to 231, MFQ factor 2 (18 items) ranges from 7-126 and MSQ factor 3 (5 items) ranges from 7 to 35.
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Time frame: Measured at Baseline and Week 24, change from baseline to week 24 is reported.
Change in Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36)
Health-Related quality of life will be determined using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) which comprises 8 scales: physical functioning, role limitations - physical, role limitations - emotional, energy, emotional well-being, social functioning, pain, and general health. Scales are scored from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating higher quality of life.
Time frame: Measured at Baseline and Week 24, change from baseline to week 24 is reported.