Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction for Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Inclusion Criteria

• •Clinical diagnosis of MCI\* made by a neurologist (through history, physical exam and neuropsychological testing)
• •1. Memory complaint, corroborated by an informant
• •2. Abnormal memory function documented by memory testing \<1.5 standard deviation below normative controls (assessed with the Wechsler Memory scale IV\[114\], Logical Memory subtest, or an equivalent test)
• •3. Normal general cognitive function
• •4. Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) score of \>24 out of 30
• •5. No/minimal impairment in activities of daily living
• •6. Not sufficiently impaired, cognitively or functionally, to meet the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disease and Stroke/Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria for AD
• •60-90 yo
• •Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR total score of 0.5, with at least 0.5 on memory subscale
• •No history of significant cerebrovascular disease based on Modified Hachinski score ≤ 4
• •Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score ≤12 (to rule out depression as a contributing cause of cognitive decline)
• •Able and willing to attend weekly sessions and willing to participate in daily mindfulness assignments, up to 45 min/day
• •Agreeable to participate and to be randomized to either group
• •Fluent in English (since the treatment groups will be run in English)
• •Adequate visual and auditory acuity to allow neuropsychological testing
• •Good general health with no additional diseases expected to interfere with the study
• •MRI/CT scan within 24 months without indication of infection, infarction, or focal lesions.
• •Family member/close friend ("informant") able to corroborate participant's history of memory loss
• •Participants may take stable doses (stable for at least 4 weeks prior to screening) of certain medications including:
• •* Antidepressants (except those with significant anticholinergic side effects such as tricyclic antidepressants). Patients cannot be currently depressed and or have a history of major depression within the past 2 years
• •* Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine