The Effects of MIndfulenss on Stress, with Implications for Alzheimer's Disease

Authors

Rabia Asif, Chapman UniversityFollow
Amanda Hamilton, Chapman UniversityFollow
Jenna McKee, Chapman UniversityFollow
Manjari Murali, Chapman UniversityFollow

Document Type

Chapman access only poster or presentation

Publication Date

Fall 12-1-2021

Faculty Advisor(s)

Dr. Manjari Murali

Abstract

As new research emerges on the effectiveness of mindfulness practices, there is a growing interest in the specific neurophysiological and longitudinal outcomes of mindfulness, including its long-term effects on stress. Through an extensive literature review, we are considering a surplus of experimental studies that have found an inverse relationship between mindfulness and both perceived and physiological stress. We are also seeking out studies that have investigated chronic stress as a factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Numerous studies indicate that Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an intervention beneficial for stress management and general mental health (Klatt et al., 2009). Although there have been many studies that individually explore either the link between mindfulness and stress, or between stress and AD, there is less research done on the implications of mindfulness on preventing or delaying the onset of AD. Existing public and research data sets will be analyzed to identify potential connections between the prevalence of AD in a population and levels of stress and mindfulness. In addition to literature review and data set analysis, we will present our longitudinal research design to investigate the correlation between mindfulness and levels of perceived and physiological stress in participants of the 6-week Mindfulness Course taught by the Fish Interfaith Center at Chapman University. Our research study has implications for Alzheimer’s disease prevention because chronic stress in midlife is believed to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in later life (Jeong et al., 2006). Mental health surveys and salivary cortisol tests will be taken before, immediately upon completion, and 3 months after the completion of the Fish Mindfulness Course. It is anticipated that both the levels of perceived stress as well as the physiological stress of the subjects will decrease after completing the mindfulness course and partaking in regular meditation, both short-term and long-term.

Comments

Presented at the virtual Fall 2021 Student Scholar Symposium at Chapman University.

Recommended Citation

Asif, Rabia; Hamilton, Amanda; McKee, Jenna; and Murali, Manjari, "The Effects of MIndfulenss on Stress, with Implications for Alzheimer's Disease" (2021). Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters. 485.
https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/cusrd_abstracts/485