Mindfulness to Improve Elders' Immune and Health Status

August 12, 2014 updated by: Jan Moynihan, University of Rochester

The purpose of the study is to better understand effects of the Mindfulness-Based Stress-Reduction (MBSR) program on the physical and emotional health and well-being of adults ages 65 and older.

The effects MBSR may have on the immune system is investigated, including how these effects relate to factors such as perceived health, psychological well-being, age, personality, and mood.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study investigates the effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on immune responses to multiple concentrations of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) in elderly volunteers. The research design thus capitalizes on the antibody response to a novel, benign antigen to which our subjects will be immunologically naïve. The use of a range of antigen concentrations will provide a sensitive indicator for the effects of intervention.

The Aims of the study are the following:

  1. To examine the effects of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on immunological outcomes, perceived health, and psychological well-being in a sample of seniors 65 years of age and older.
  2. To examine whether treatment effects are moderated by age, personality traits, physical health status, or depression.
  3. To examine the effects of behavioral, psychological, and physiological mediators of immune outcome.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

208

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • Rochester, New York, United States, 14642
        • University of Rochester Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

65 years and older (Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 65 or older
  • English speaking
  • If prescribed antidepressant or anxiolytic medications, must have maintained a stable regimen for eight weeks prior to enrolling

Exclusion Criteria:

  • receiving immunosuppressive therapy for cancer or other diseases
  • major, uncorrected sensory impairments
  • cognitive deficits (MMSE <25, or deficits deemed significant enough to interfere)
  • history of a psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, organic brain syndrome, or mental retardation
  • alcohol or substance abuse within the previous year
  • severe cardiovascular disease
  • known allergies to shellfish

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Participation in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program following the initial assessment period, just prior to the start of the immunological measures.
Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
The standardized Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program is the primary training tool used to enhance mindfulness. The eight-week-long MBSR program is designed to teach subjects how to develop their inner resources in the service of taking better care of themselves. MBSR training includes the learning and refining of a range of skills aimed at increasing relaxation and awareness of physical experiences and sensations related to physical symptoms, emotions, and thoughts. Special emphasis is placed on movement, meditation, and breathing.
Other Names:
  • MBSR
No Intervention: Wait-list control
Wait-list control participants were offered MBSR training after completion of their primary assessments periods.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
IgG Anti-KLH Antibody Response Post-treatment
Time Frame: Immediate post-treatment (time 2)
Immune function--specifically, antibody response to a novel, benign antigen (an antigen to which subjects are immunologically naïve); in this case, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH).
Immediate post-treatment (time 2)
Trail Making Test
Time Frame: immediate post-treatment (Time 2)
The Trail Making Test is a commonly used neuropsychological test of visual attention and task-switching. In two timed tasks, subjects are asked to first connect numbers (Test A), then alternating numbers and letters (Test B), in sequential order as quickly as possible. Completion times, relating to cognitive processing speed and executive function (respectively), may be utilized individually, and as a difference (B-A) or ratio (B/A) score. The Trails B/A ratio was used as an index of improvement in executive control throughout the trial, with lower scores indicating better performance.
immediate post-treatment (Time 2)
Electroencephalography Measurement
Time Frame: post-treatment (time 2)
Measurement of alpha asymmetry at the F3/4 (frontal) electrode. Left prefrontal activation has been associated with positive affect, and with higher levels of antibody responses and natural killer cell cytotoxicity.
post-treatment (time 2)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Rochester

Collaborators

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Jan A Moynihan, Ph.D, University of Rochester

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

March 1, 2006

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 1, 2009

Study Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 6, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 8, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

December 9, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

August 27, 2014

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 12, 2014

Last Verified

January 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 1R01AG025474 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • R01AG025474 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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