Objective: To investigate the impact of 8-week course of Mindfulness based intervention program on motor and or non-motor symptoms of PD assessed by improvement in scores of UPDRS, PSS, NMS and MAAS.

Background: There is a growing recognition of the value of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs). MBIs are designed to train individuals to cultivate mindfulness and incorporate its practice into daily life. Mindfulness has been defined as “paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally”.

Method: We enrolled 25 patients with PD. Data gathered before participants begin the MBI 8-week program, at the end of the 8-week MBI and 3 months post MBI cycle.
The following measurement instruments/survey were administered
The Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part 1, 2 and 4.
The Non-Motor Symptoms (NMS) Questionnaire
The perceived stress Scale (PSS)
The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS)

Results: 25 patients completed the MBI with pre, 8-week post intervention, and 3- month post intervention. PSS showed a reduction in stress by 14.5% post session and by 22.4% after 3 months which reflects emotional wellbeing and improvement, we also compared MAAS. Higher MAAS scores reflect higher levels of dispositional mindfulness. Similarly, MAAS showed 5.8% improvement in post session and 8.6% improvement in post 3-month survey. NMS showed 12% decrease in mean value at post intervention i.e., improvement in symptoms however 7.2% increase in score at 3 months follow up which means no major change in NMS post 3 months. Similar to other scores, there was improvement in UPDRS (Part-1,2,4) scores after the intervention. Part-1 showed 27.7% improvement in post session and 34.7% improvement in post 3 month follow up (non-motor experiences of daily living that is mentation, behavior mood), part-2 showed 19.8% improvement in post session and 18.1% improvement in 3 months follow up (motor experiences of daily living) part-4 revealed 21.7% improvement in post session and 22% in post 3-month survey (motor complications).

Conclusion: Overall, our study shows improvement in both motor and neuropsychiatric deficits in PD immediately following the mindfulness intervention and at 3 months follow up. Our findings were clinically significant with p value <0.05.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/mindfulness-based-program-for-newly-diagnosed-parkinsons-patients/