The Effect of Religion and Spirituality on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review

Hosseini, Shera; Chaurasia, Ashok; Oremus, Mark

doi:10.1093/geront/gnx024

Cited by 56 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Spirituality plays an important part in many people’s lives, especially elders [48]. One systematic review found that spirituality had a protective effect on cognitive decline [49] and thus, supporting elders to engage in activities that support their spirituality, whatever spirituality they choose, could support their overall health and functionality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (IMMI) Improves Depression Symptoms in Older Adults

Wahbeh

2018

Medicines

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Background: Older adults have fewer physiological reserves and are more likely to be affected by stress. Mindfulness meditation has the potential to be an effective treatment for depression, but little research has been conducted on older adults. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate depression symptom changes in older adults (55–80 years old) taking an Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (IMMI) compared to a waitlist control. The secondary aims were to collect data on pain, perceived stress, resilience, mindfulness, sleep quality, and spirituality. Methods: Fifty older adults were randomized to either the Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention, a six-week online intervention with daily home practice, or a waitlist control. Measures were collected at baseline, after the six-week intervention period, and again six weeks later after the waitlist participants completed IMMI. Adherence to home practice was objectively measured with iMINDr. Changes in outcomes for the IMMI and waitlist participants were compared. All participants who completed IMMI were then combined for a within-participant analysis. Results: Adherence to the intervention was low, likely due to a traumatic event in the local area of the participants. Compared to the waitlist participants, those in IMMI had improved depression symptoms (p < 0.00005), perceived stress (p = 0.0007), insomnia symptoms ((p = 0.0009), and pain severity (p = 0.05). In the within-participant analysis of all data before and after IMMI (i.e., those initially randomized to IMMI and waitlist participants who took it), we found improvements in depression symptoms (p = 0.0001), perceived stress (p = 0.0001), insomnia symptoms (p < 0.00005), pain interference (p = 0.003), and spirituality (p = 0.018). A seven-week follow-up after the original six-week IMMI program showed sustained improvements in the IMMI participants. Conclusions: IMMI improved depression and related symptoms compared to controls despite minimal support from study staff. IMMI offers a low-dose, low-cost, easily accessible mindfulness meditation intervention for older adults with depression symptoms.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (IMMI) Improves Depression Symptoms in Older Adults

Wahbeh

2018

Medicines

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“…The included studies were too heterogeneous for a meta-analysis to be conducted. Heterogeneity between studies was observed in the varying approaches used to assess R/S, ranging from the different instruments used across studies to multiple dimensions of R/S examined; these issues have been acknowledged in prior systematic reviews [ 25 , 26 ]. We provide a qualitative synthesis of the results obtained from the studies identified in our review.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of religiosity and spirituality with quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review

et al. 2018

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Purpose: This review systematically identified and critically appraised the available literature that has examined the association between religiosity and/or spirituality (R/S) and Quality of life (QOL) in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: We searched several electronic online databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and CINAHL) from database inception until October 2017. Included articles were peer-reviewed, published in English, and quantitatively examined the association between R/S and QOL. We assessed the methodological quality of each included study. Results: The 15 articles included were published between 2002 and 2017. Most studies were conducted in the U.S and enrolled patients with heart failure. Sixteen dimensions of R/S were assessed with a variety of instruments. QOL domains examined were global, health related, and disease specific QOL. Ten studies reported a significant positive association between R/S and QOL, with higher spiritual well-being, intrinsic religiousness, and frequency of church attendance positively related with mental and emotional well-being. Approximately half of the included studies reported negative or null associations. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that higher levels of R/S may be related to better QOL among patients with CVD, with varying associations depending on the R/S dimension and QOL domain assessed. Future longitudinal studies in large patient samples with different CVDs and designs are needed to better understand how R/S may influence QOL. More uniformity in assessing R/S would enhance comparability of results across studies. Understanding the influence of R/S on QOL would promote a holistic approach in managing patients with CVD.

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“…56 Nevertheless, higher levels of spirituality have been associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline in patients with AD 57 and in the healthy elderly. 58,59 Therefore, spiritual well-being could potentially work as a mediator of the MBSR effect, especially on depressive symptoms and anxiety.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

<p>The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Depression, Cognition, and Immunity in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Feasibility Study</p>

Marciniak¹,

Šumec²,

Vyhnálek³

et al. 2020

CIA

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Background: Mindfulness-based programs have shown a promising effect on several health factors associated with increased risk of dementia and the conversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia such as depression, stress, cognitive decline, immune system and brain structural and functional changes. Studies on mindfulness in MCI subjects are sparse and frequently lack control intervention groups. Objective: To determine the feasibility and the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) practice on depression, cognition and immunity in MCI compared to cognitive training. Methods: Twenty-eight MCI subjects were randomly assigned to two groups. MBSR group underwent 8-week MBSR program. Control group underwent 8-week cognitive training. Their cognitive and immunological profiles and level of depressive symptoms were examined at baseline, after each 8-week intervention (visit 2, V2) and six months after each intervention (visit 3, V3). MBSR participants completed feasibility questionnaire at V2. Results: Twenty MCI patients completed the study (MBSR group n=12, control group n=8). MBSR group showed significant reduction in depressive symptoms at both V2 (p=0.03) and V3 (p=0.0461) compared to the baseline. There was a minimal effect on cognition-a group comparison analysis showed better psychomotor speed in the MBSR group compared to the control group at V2 (p=0.0493) but not at V3. There was a detectable change in immunological profiles in both groups, more pronounced in the MBSR group. Participants checked only positive/neutral answers concerning the attractivity/length of MBSR intervention. More severe cognitive decline (PVLT≤36) was associated with the lower adherence to home practice. Conclusion: MBSR is well-accepted potentially promising intervention with positive effect on cognition, depressive symptoms and immunological profile.

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The Effect of Religion and Spirituality on Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review

Abstract: Public health practitioners should not overlook the benefits of enabling religious/spiritual practices among religious adults (i.e., offering ride programs could help isolated elders attend religious gatherings).

Cited by 56 publications

References 34 publications

Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (IMMI) Improves Depression Symptoms in Older Adults

Internet Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (IMMI) Improves Depression Symptoms in Older Adults

Association of religiosity and spirituality with quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review

<p>The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Depression, Cognition, and Immunity in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Feasibility Study</p>

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