MINDFULNESS AND PSYCHOEDUCATION TO MANAGE STRESS IN AMNESTIC MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: A COMPARISON STUDY

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) often corresponds to the prodromal stage of Alzheimer disease (AD). This aMCI stage represents a crucial time window to apply preventive interventions in an attempt to delay cognitive decline. Stress, one of AD's modifiable risk factors and frequently co-occurring with aMCI, stands out as a key intervention target. The goal of this study was to assess the impacts of two non-pharmacological interventions, mindfulness and psychoeducation, on stress at the psychological and physiological level among aMCI older adults. Forty-eight aMCI participants were randomized between mindfulness based intervention (MBI) and psychoeducation based intervention (PBI) for 8 weekly sessions. Perceived stress level, cortisol awakening response (CAR) and coping strategies were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Data regarding mindfulness attitudes and time dedicated to at-home meditative practices were collected only for MBI. The results revealed: 1) a reduction of CAR among MBI participants who practiced at-home meditation the most; 2) a decrease of perceived stress level for PBI; 3) an increase in mindfulness attitudes for MBI and; 4) enhanced problem-focused coping strategies for both interventions. In sum, this study supports the potential of MBI and PBI to reduce stress at the physiological and psychological level, respectively, and increase coping strategies in older adults at risk for AD with few therapeutic options.