Effects of meditation training and non‐native language training on cognition in older‐adults: A secondary analysis of the three‐arm Age‐Well randomized controlled trial

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundNon‐pharmacological interventions are a potential strategy to maintain or promote cognitive functioning in older adults. We investigated the effects of 18‐months meditation or non‐native language training versus no intervention on cognition in older adults.MethodAge‐Well was an observer‐blind, randomised, controlled clinical trial with three parallel arms. Cognitively healthy adults aged ≥ 65 years and were recruited in France. Participants were randomised (1:1:1) to a meditation training, non‐native language (English) training, or a no intervention group for 18 months. Cognition (a pre‐specified secondary outcome) was assessed pre‐ and post‐intervention via the Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite 5 (PACC5), and composites assessing episodic memory, executive function, and attention. Linear mixed models, adjusted for age, sex, and education, evaluated cognitive changes between arms. Baseline neocortical amyloid deposition was added as a fixed effect in a sensitivity analysis. Additional sensitivity analyses assessed intervention effects for participants who attended at least 20% of intervention classes or were classified as ‘responders’.Results137 participants were randomly assigned to meditation training (n = 45), non‐native language training (n = 46), or no intervention (n = 46). Two participants were excluded for not meeting eligibility criteria, and one died during follow‐up (Figure 1). A positive effect of non‐native language training was observed on episodic memory relative to the no intervention group (0·32 [95% CI: 0·04‐0·61], p = 0·025), and on PACC5 scores compared to meditation training (0·33 [95% CI: 0·01‐0·66], p = 0·045; Figure 2). In sensitivity analyses, neither the inclusion of amyloid as an additional covariate nor the exclusion of participants who attended <20% of intervention classes affected results. Following exclusion of ‘non‐responders’, evidence for beneficial effects (relative to the no intervention group) on episodic memory became significant for meditation training (0·33 [0·01, 0·66]), and was weakened for non‐native language training (0·30 [‐0·02, 0·62]). No other between‐group differences emerged.ConclusionAmong cognitively healthy older adults, there was limited evidence for positive effects of 18‐months meditation training on cognition. However, in addition to having real‐life utility, non‐native language learning in late life may have beneficial effects on cognitive domains affected early in Alzheimer’s disease. Studies investigating whether these effects are long‐lasting are warranted.