$121,950 awarded to Dr. Angela Genge, The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) at McGill University, in collaboration with Dr. Francesco Pagnini, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and, Lana Kim McGeary, Antonietta Vitale, Nathalie Magnan, Kendra Berry, Maura Fisher, Kalyna Franko, Dr. Rami Massie, The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) at McGill University.
Mindfulness is a therapeutic technique that teaches one to focus on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting their feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Previous research has demonstrated that learning mindfulness can help with navigating grief and benefit overall quality of life.
In this pilot study, the first of its kind in ALS, a specific type of mindfulness will be used. Called embodied mindfulness, this approach uses defined physical movements to enhance the ability of people living with ALS, and their caregivers, to notice variability in breathing patterns, leading to a greater sense of perceived control and in turn improved quality of life.
This six-month qualitative study will recruit 40 participants, including people living with ALS and their caregivers, to determine whether an interdisciplinary embodied mindfulness protocol that combines home and clinic exercises can improve quality of life, using multiple established measures.
The findings from this study will help to inform future care for people living with ALS. If successful, the investigators hope that mindfulness-based interventions will be considered a best-practice approach to clinical care in the future.