Beneficial Effects of Mindfulness-based Training on Neuropsychological Outcomes in Mild Cognitive Impairment

The RBANS Attention Index is a composite of the Digit Span and Coding subtests. This index is a measure of simple auditory registration and visual scanning and processing speed. Low scores on this index indicate difficulties with basic attention processes and speed of information processing.

The RBANS Immediate Memory Index is composite of the learning (immediate) trials of the Story Memory and List Learning subtests. This index is a measure of initial encoding and learning complex and simple verbal information. Low scores on this index indicate difficulties with verbal learning.

The RBANS Delayed Memory Index is a composite of the Story Memory Recall, List Learning Recall, List Learning Recognition, and Figure Recall subtests. This index is a measure of delayed recall and recognition for verbal and visual information. Low scores on this index indicate difficulties with recognition and retrieval of information from long-term memory stores.

Speed of cognitive processing and executive functioning is measured by the total time taken to complete each task.

Dispositional Mindfulness and present-centered attention-awareness in everyday experience is measured with this scale. This instrument focused on the absence of attention to and awareness of present experience, and operationalized mindfulness as a single construct.

Short-Form 36 (SF-36) is a 36-item self-report survey of health, including physical and mental health, with 8 scaled scores, each ranging from a minimum of 0 to max 100. Total score is the mean of all the subscales.

Physical functioning : 10 items; Role functioning/physical : 4 items; Role emotional: 3 items; Energy/fatigue: 4 items; Mental Health: 5 items; Social functioning: 2 items; Body pain: 2 items; General health : 5 items; Reported health transition: 1 item.

Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) evaluates an individual's level of tendency for insomnia on a 7-item questionnaire, scoring in total from 0 to 28. Scores above 15 indicates moderate severity of clinical insomnia while scores above 22 are indicative of severe clinical insomnia. ISI internal consistency was excellent for population samples both in the community and clinical samples as well, (Cronbach α of 0.90 and 0.91 respectively).

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Score (PSQI) is a 19-item self-rated questionnaire for evaluating subjective sleep quality over the previous month. The PSQI has a sensitivity of 89.6% and specificity of 86.5% for identifying cases with sleep disorder, using a cut-off score of 5.

The first 4 items are open questions, whereas items 5 to 19 are rated on a 4-point Likert scale. Individual items scores yield 7 components. A total score, ranging from 0 to 21, is obtained by adding the 7 component scores. A score of 5 and above suggests poor sleep quality. A decrease in PSQI score following intervention would reflect and improvement of sleep quality.

The change in the volume of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is assessed through structural MRI brain scans - Participants will have their baseline fMRI scan before the start of their participation in the intervention and after the end of the intervention.

During two rsfMRI scans, subjects are imaged over several minutes while their eyes are open, but without performing any explicit task. The resting state scan will show only a fixation cross on the screen in order to minimize the cognitive processing involved while decreasing head movement and sleepiness in the scanner.

Mindfulness predisposition is measured with the use of traditional connectivity analysis as well as a newer method: graph theory analysis for task ready state in Dynamic Functional Connectivity. These data are extracted by decomposing the time-varying signal during resting periods into independent, intrinsically connected networks.