The Effects of Mindfulness on Persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Longitudinal Study

Customized 8-week group-based MCI mindfulness training program outline.

 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)  program

Week 1
• Aims of the program
• Outline the principles and structure of the program, resources and role of Familiar Support Person (FSP)
• Introduction
   What mindfulness is and why it can be helpful for MCI
• Importance of mindfulness practice (Formal and Informal approaches)
• In-class mindfulness meditation with guided instructions–e.g., “Body scan” meditation (10 min) and Debrief
• In-class informal mindfulness practice with guided instructions–e.g., mindful eating
• “Questions and Answers” session
• Home practice
   Formal mindfulness practice (2 × 10-min “Body scan” meditation daily)
   Informal practice in daily life–e.g., mindful eating
   Inquiry: Noticing mindfulness vs. default mode and Effects of each
Week 2
• In-class “Breath” meditation (I) with guided instructions emphasizing curiosity (5 min)
• Debrief home practice from the last week
• Discussion about Mindfulness, Attention and Memory (Curiosity and Focus)
• In-class “Breath” meditation (II) with guided instructions emphasizing gentleness (10 min)
• Importance of mental exercises
• In-class mental exercises with series of choices–e.g., crossword puzzles, Sudoku, spot the differences etc. and Debrief
• “Comma”
   To illustrate that formal practice can be done anytime and anywhere quickly (does not require 10 min)
• Home practice
   Formal mindfulness practice (2 × 10-min “Body scan”/”Breath” meditations daily)
   Informal practice in daily life–e.g., mindful eating
   Mental exercises–e.g., reading, puzzles, language (at least 15 min daily)
Week 3
• In-class Mindful listening meditation with guided instructions (5 min)
• Debrief home practice from the last week
• Mindfulness and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) functioning (Part I)–e.g., communications, medication management, use of technology and domestic appliances, cooking, shopping
• In-class mindfulness meditation with guided instructions–“Full stop” (15 min)
• In-class mindfulness exercises with guided instructions–e.g., “Music” and “Communicating with awareness” and Debrief
• Home practice
   Formal mindfulness practice (2 × 15-min “Body scan”/”Breath” meditations daily)
   Informal practice in daily life–e.g., mindful eating/communications, physical exercises
   Mental exercises–e.g., reading, puzzles, language (at least 15 min daily)
Week 4
• In-class mindfulness meditation (I) with guided instructions (10 min)
• Debrief home practice from the last week
• Mindfulness and Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
   The role of default mental activity in mental health problems
   The importance of being in the present moment
• In-class mindfulness meditation (II) with guided instructions (15 min)
• Home practice
   Formal mindfulness practice (2 × 15-min “Body scan”/“Breath”/Mindful listening meditations daily)
   Noticing stress response, default mode and returning attention to present
   Informal practice in daily life–e.g., mindful eating/communications, physical exercises
   Mental exercises–e.g., reading, puzzles, language (at least 15 min daily)
Week 5
• In-class mindfulness meditation with guided instructions (20 min)
• Debrief home practice from the last week
• Mindfulness and Emotion management
• In-class “Working with distractions” experiment with guided instructions and Debrief
• In-class mindfulness exercises with guided instructions–e.g., “Working mindfully with emotions” and “Compassion/Loving-kindness”
• Home practice
   Formal mindfulness practice (2 × 20-min “Body scan”/“Breath”/“Loving-kindness” meditations daily)
   Informal practice in daily life–e.g., mindful eating/communications, physical exercises
   Mental exercises–e.g., reading, puzzles, language (at least 15 min daily)
Week 6
• In-class mindfulness meditation with guided instructions (20 min)
• Debrief home practice from the last week
• Mindfulness and Learning, Mental flexibility, and Problem solving
• In-class mindfulness exercises with guided instructions–e.g., “Multi-tasking–Communicating and Problem-solving”
• Written exercises–To acknowledge distractions/note actual thoughts on the second column/writing pad
• Home practice
   Formal mindfulness practice (2 × 20-min “Body scan”/“Breath”/“Loving-kindness” meditations daily)
   Informal practice in daily life–e.g., mindful eating/communications, physical exercises
   Mental exercises–e.g., reading, puzzles, language (at least 15 min daily)
Week 7
• In-class mindfulness meditation with guided instructions (20 min)
• Debrief home practice from the last week
• Mindfulness and ADL functioning (Part II)–e.g., financial management, transportation, driving, use of public transport, walking
• In-class mindfulness exercises with guided instructions–e.g., 15 min of “Mindful walking”
• Home practice
   Formal mindfulness practice (2 × 20-min “Body scan”/“Breath”/“Loving-kindness” meditations daily)
   Informal practice in daily life–e.g., mindful walking (both as exercise and incidental when traveling)/eating/communications, physical exercises
   Mental exercises–e.g., reading, puzzles, language (at least 15 min daily)
Week 8
• In-class mindfulness meditation with guided instructions (20 min)
• Debrief home practice from the last week
• Debrief course
   Importance of formal mindfulness practice
   Importance of incorporating informal mindfulness into day-to-day activities
   Mindfulness as a way of life
   Mindfulness and MCI/Alzheimer's disease
• Ongoing home practice
   Formal mindfulness practice (2 × 20-min “Body scan”/“Breath”/“Loving-kindness” meditations daily)
   Informal practice in daily life–e.g., mindful eating/communications/walking, physical exercises
   Mental exercises–e.g., reading, puzzles, language (at least 15 min daily)