Mindfulness Meditation and Insomnia in Alzheimer Disease Caregivers (CARES)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Alzheimer or other dementia caregivers
• Older than 45 years of age
• Self-identified as the principal person taking care of the patient with Alzheimer or other dementia
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Criteria - 5 for Insomnia

Exclusion Criteria:

• Psychiatric disorders including current major depressive disorder or other current DSM-5 psychiatric disorder (e.g. substance dependence) with the exception of anxiety disorder;
• Psychotic symptoms;
• Acute suicidal or violent behavior or history of suicide attempt within the last year
• Other sleep disorders including current or lifetime history of sleep apnea, nocturnal myoclonus, phase-shift disorder as identified by SCID-5 and Duke Structured Interview for Sleep Disorders (DSISD)
• Medical conditions such as acute or uncontrolled medical illness (e.g., major surgery, metastatic cancer, Class III heart failure, inflammatory disorder)
• Chronic infections
• Obesity with body mass index (BMI) >35
• Use of hormone containing medications including steroids or immune modifying drugs
• Daily use of analgesics such as opioids;
• Daily us of sedative hypnotic medications
• Cognitive impairment as evidenced by DSM-5 interview and/or Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE < 26)
• Actively practicing a mind body intervention.