Through various studies we’ve learned that depression is a serious symptom for those living with Alzheimer’s disease as well as for their caregivers. Researchers continue to seek new ways to lessen the many symptoms associated with the disease. A new study just released shows that training in mindfulness — learning how to focus on the present moment — helps to improve the emotional well-being of people living with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
The study, published in the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, examined 37 people including 29 people caring for someone living with memory loss. Those people living with memory loss, and their caregivers, attended an eight-week mindfulness training session. During those eight weeks, they showed improvement in depression scores, sleep quality and their overall quality of life.
Researchers believe that this breakthrough will help in the overall communication between a caregiver and a loved one. Once someone is diagnosed with memory loss, new ways of communication are essential for loved ones and the person living with the disease. According to Sandra Weintraub, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern and a neuropsychologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, “The practice of mindfulness places both participants in the present and focuses on positive features of the interaction, allowing for a type of connection that may substitute for the more complex ways of communicating in the past.”
This type of training is available for people suffering with mild to even severe memory loss. Researchers want to do more testing to see if there are other health benefits that might come from such an extensive training session. To learn more about this story, please click here.
