Digital meditation intervention for emotional well-being in lonely older adults
Dynamic Neural Systems Underlying Social-emotional Functions in Older Adults
This study tests whether a digital meditation program can improve the emotional well-being of lonely older adults by comparing their experiences with those who are not using the program.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 75 (estimated) |
| Ages | 60 Years to 120 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, San Francisco Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (San Francisco, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT05645835 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study assesses the effects of a remote, app-delivered digital meditation intervention on the emotional well-being of lonely older adults. Participants will undergo neuroimaging and electrophysiological assessments while engaging in the intervention and watching an awe-inspiring movie. The study aims to explore the neural correlates of emotional responses and social interactions through fMRI and EEG measurements. A waitlist control group will be used to compare outcomes between those receiving the intervention and those not receiving it.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are cognitively healthy adults aged 60 and older who are fluent in English and have little to no prior meditation experience.
Not a fit: Patients with severe psychiatric or neurological disorders, active meditators, or those with MRI contraindications may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly improve emotional well-being and reduce feelings of loneliness in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with digital interventions for emotional well-being, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 60 years of age or older * English language fluency * Naive to meditation practices (not actively meditating more than one hour per month and/or meditation practice for less than a year in their entire life-time) * No MRI contra-indications * Cognitively healthy (no diagnosis of dementia, stroke, developmental disorders, or major systemic diseases that may impact cognitive function) Exclusion Criteria: * Below 60 years of age * Not fluent in English * Active meditator (meditating more than one hour per month and/or meditation practice for more than a year in their entire life-time). * Presence of a severe psychiatric (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD), neurological (epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, dementia, multiple sclerosis), or developmental disorder (e.g. autism) * Systemic disease (e.g. major recent surgeries, cancer) * Claustrophobia * Contraindications for MR safety (e.g. metal in body, cochlea implants)
Where this trial is running
San Francisco, California
- University of California San Francisco — San Francisco, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Lorenzo Pasquini, PhD — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Lorenzo Pasquini, PhD
- Email: lorenzo.pasquini@ucsf.edu
- Phone: (415) 476-1000
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.