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[Effects of a neuropsychology program based on mindfulness on Alzheimer's disease: randomized double-blind clinical study]
Quintana Hernández DJ, Miró Barrachina MT, Ibáñez Fernández I, del Pino AS, García Rodríguez Jr, Hernández JR.. Revista espanola de geriatria y gerontologia, 2014-05-28
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Introduction The purpose of this research was to assess effects of a mindfulness based neuropsychological intervention on the clinical course of Alzheimer's disease. Material and method A two year randomized and double blind clinical trial was conducted on 127 probable Alzheimer's disease patients, according to NINCDS-ADRDA scale. Patients were grouped into three experimental groups (cognitive stimulation, progressive muscular relaxation, and mindfulness) plus a control group. All participants were receiving donepezil. Cognitive skills were assessed with CAMCOG and MMSE, functional area with RDRS-2, and NPI was used for psychopathology screening. Three treatment sessions per week were carried out for two years, and follow up measurements were taken every six months. Results The global cognitive function, functionality and behavioral disorders measurements indicated that patients from the experimental group based on mindfulness were stable during the two years, while patients from the control group, as well as the other experimental groups, showed a mild but significant worsening of their mental capacities. Conclusion The mindfulness based neuropsychological program showed better cognitive and functional stability, as well as significant improvement in the psychopathological condition of mild to moderate Alzheimer' patients. These results support the idea that a mindfulness based intervention can produce a clinically relevant improvement in the treatment of dementia. More research is needed to confirm these data.
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APA 7th
Quintana Hernández, D. J., Miró Barrachina, M. T., Ibáñez Fernández, I., del Pino, A. S., Rodríguez, G., Jr., & Hernández, JR. (2014). [Effects of a neuropsychology program based on mindfulness on Alzheimer's disease: randomized double-blind clinical study]. Revista espanola de geriatria y gerontologia. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regg.2014.03.002
Vancouver
Quintana Hernández DJ, Miró Barrachina MT, Ibáñez Fernández I, del Pino AS, Rodríguez G Jr, Hernández JR. [Effects of a neuropsychology program based on mindfulness on Alzheimer's disease: randomized double-blind clinical study]. Revista espanola de geriatria y gerontologia. 2014. doi:10.1016/j.regg.2014.03.002. PMID: 24880524.
BibTeX
@article{quintanahernandez2014-24880524,
author = {Quintana Hernández, D. J. and Miró Barrachina, M. T. and Ibáñez Fernández, I. and del Pino, A. S. and Rodríguez, Jr., García and Hernández, JR.},
title = {{[Effects of a neuropsychology program based on mindfulness on Alzheimer's disease: randomized double-blind clinical study]}},
journal = {Revista espanola de geriatria y gerontologia},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.1016/j.regg.2014.03.002},
pmid = {24880524},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regg.2014.03.002}
}
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Key findings
- Results The global cognitive function, functionality and behavioral disorders measurements indicated that patients from the experimental group based on mindfulness were stable during the two years, while patients from the control group, as well as the other experimental groups, showed a mild but significant worsening of their mental capacities.
- Conclusion The mindfulness based neuropsychological program showed better cognitive and functional stability, as well as significant improvement in the psychopathological condition of mild to moderate Alzheimer' patients.
- These results support the idea that a mindfulness based intervention can produce a clinically relevant improvement in the treatment of dementia.
Why it matters
In this two-year trial of 127 patients with probable Alzheimer's disease, those receiving a mindfulness-based program remained stable on cognition, function, and behavior, while the control and other experimental groups worsened mildly. The authors conclude the program supported cognitive and functional stability in mild to moderate disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 50/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for sample size and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Revista espanola de geriatria y gerontologia) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Revista Española de Geriatría y Gerontología: journal h-index 38 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2014 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (pubmed indexes it as a clinical or observational study) |
| Randomised / blinded | 2 / 2 | Randomised and blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 16 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.1 citations a year over 14 year(s) since 2014 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Jaime Rojas‐Hernández: h-index 8 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Universidad de La Laguna: institution h-index 471 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 24880524) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 50 / 100 | — |
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