Test AnxietyNCT07924904
Mindfulness Meditation to Reduce Cognitive Load
A study testing Guided Mindfulness Meditation and Neutral Story Listening in people with Test Anxiety and Stress, Psychological, run by University of South Carolina at 4 sites in United States.
Trial summary
Older adults from disadvantaged backgrounds may score lower on memory and thinking tests because of test anxiety and stress, not because of true memory problems. This can lead to being wrongly diagnosed with dementia. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 50 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Test Anxiety, Stress, Psychological, Cognitive Aging
- What is being tested?
- Guided Mindfulness Meditation and Neutral Story Listening
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 4 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 14 Nov 2026to 15 Mar 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 50 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 50 years or older
- Self-identified low educational attainment (high school diploma or less)
- Low socioeconomic status per local criteria
- Able to provide informed consent
Who cannot join
- Diagnosis of dementia
- Uncorrected hearing impairment preventing completion of the audio-guided intervention
- Uncorrected vision impairment preventing completion of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
- Current regular mindfulness meditation practice
- Diagnosis of atrial fibrillation
Trial locations and contacts
4 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States4 sites
Lourie Center, Senior Resources, Inc.
Columbia, South Carolina, 29201
Mekia A Burgess, 803-252-7734, mburgess@seniorresourcesinc.org
University of South Carolina, Aging Gracefully Lab
Columbia, South Carolina, 29201
Mina Karami, 8032614523, karamim@email.sc.edu
Vital Aging of Williamsburg County, Inc
Kingstree, South Carolina, 29556
Robert Welch, 843-354-5496, rwelch@vitalaginginc.org
Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center
West Columbia, South Carolina, 29169
Cindye Richburg Cotton, Ed.D., MBA, 803-744-7943, crichburgcotton@brookland.cc
About this study
Official title: Mindful Meditation to Reduce Stress and Cognitive Load for Older Adults
Older adults from disadvantaged backgrounds may score lower on memory and thinking tests because of test anxiety and stress, not because of true memory problems. This can lead to being wrongly diagnosed with dementia. This study will test whether a short, 15-minute guided meditation before taking a memory and thinking test helps older adults do better on the test and feel less stressed. About 60 adults age 50 and older, with lower education and income levels, will take part. Participants will be randomly assigned to either listen to a guided meditation or listen to a neutral story for 15 minutes before taking the test. The study will measure stress using heart rate, blood pressure, saliva samples, and a stress questionnaire.
Read the detailed description
This pilot study examines whether a brief mindfulness meditation intervention, administered immediately before cognitive testing, can reduce measurement bias caused by test-related anxiety in older adults from low-income, low-education backgrounds. Participants are randomized to a 15-minute guided mindfulness meditation session or a 15-minute neutral story-listening control session, both administered immediately before the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Physiological stress markers (heart rate variability, blood pressure, salivary pH) and self-reported anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) are assessed to evaluate the intervention's effect on stress. Assessments and physiological data collection are administered via a custom application developed by the study team, which standardizes test administration and scoring.
- Conditions
- Test Anxiety, Stress, Psychological, Cognitive Aging
- Being tested
- Guided Mindfulness Meditation, Neutral Story Listening
- Keywords
- mindfulness meditation, MOCA, older adults, health disparities, test anxiety, heart rate variability
- Medical subject headings
- Stress, Psychological
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Guided Mindfulness MeditationBehavioural
A 15-minute audio-guided mindfulness meditation session delivered via the study application, administered immediately before cognitive testing.
Neutral Story ListeningBehavioural
A 15-minute audio recording of a neutral, non-mindfulness-based story delivered via the study application, administered once immediately before cognitive testing.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness Meditation | Experimental | Participants complete a 15-minute guided mindfulness meditation session immediately before completing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Receives: Behavioral: Guided Mindfulness Meditation |
| Story-Listening Control | Active comparator | Participants listen to a 15-minute neutral, non-mindfulness story immediately before completing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Receives: Behavioral: Neutral Story Listening |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in MoCA Total Score
Cognitive performance measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), ranging from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance, administered by an examiner immediately after the assigned 15-minute intervention session.
Measured: Immediately following the 15-minute intervention session (single study visit)
Secondary outcomes (10)
Change in Heart Rate Variability
Change in heart rate variability measured continuously via the study application before and during the assigned intervention session.
Measured: Baseline to immediately post-session
Change in Systolic Blood Pressure
Change in systolic blood pressure measured via automated cuff before and immediately after the assigned intervention session.
Measured: Baseline to immediately post-session
Change in Salivary pH
Change in salivary pH measured via test strips before and immediately after the assigned intervention session.
Measured: Baseline to immediately post-session
Change in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Score
Change in self-reported state anxiety measured using the State Anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), a 20-item scale ranging from 20 to 80, with higher scores indicating greater state anxiety, administered at baseline and immediately after the assigned intervention session.
Measured: Baseline to immediately post-assessment
Change in Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) Score
Change in self-reported perceived stress measured using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), ranging from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress, administered at baseline and immediately after the assigned intervention session.
Measured: Baseline to immediately post-assessment
Recruitment Rate
Percentage of eligible individuals screened who agree to enroll in the study.
Measured: Up to 4 months
Retention Rate
Percentage of enrolled participants who complete their assigned study visit.
Measured: Day 1
Intervention Adherence
Percentage of participants who complete the full 15-minute assigned intervention session (mindfulness meditation or story-listening control), as recorded by the study application
Measured: Day 1
Participant Acceptability
Acceptability assessed via a 3-item investigator-developed measure: (1) enjoyment of the session, (2) comfort during the session, (3) perceived health benefit. Each item is rated on a 3-point scale (No / Neutral / Yes) and reported individually.
Measured: Day 1
Task Feasibility (Participant-Reported)
Feasibility assessed via a 2-item investigator-developed measure: (1) physical ease of the seated/lying position, (2) clarity of the recorded audio instructions. Each item is rated on a 3-point scale and reported individually.
Measured: Day 1
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Nov 2026
- Study start14 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion15 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Mar 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Test AnxietyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of South CarolinaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of South Carolina
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jean Neils-Strunjas, University of South Carolina
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07924904
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00000925
- Other IDs
- CL034115600N230020280007408
- Status last verified
- Nov 2026
- First submitted
- 8 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 9 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Data sharing plans have not yet been finalized. As a pilot study with a small sample size (n=60), the investigators will determine after study completion whether de-identified individual participant data will be made available, and if so, under what conditions (e.g., data use agreement, timeframe, and mechanism of access).
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Mindful Meditation to Reduce Stress and Cognitive Load for Older Adults
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07924904
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00000925
- Conditions
- Test Anxiety, Stress, Psychological, Cognitive Aging
- Keywords
- mindfulness meditation, MOCA, older adults, health disparities, test anxiety, heart rate variability
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of South CarolinaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 14 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 15 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Mar 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Nov 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Older adults from disadvantaged backgrounds may score lower on memory and thinking tests because of test anxiety and stress, not because of true memory problems. This can lead to being wrongly diagnosed with dementia. This study will test whether a short, 15-minute guided meditation before taking a memory and thinking test helps older adults do better on the test and feel less stressed. About 60 adults age 50 and older, with lower education and income levels, will take part. Participants will be randomly assigned to either listen to a guided meditation or listen to a neutral story for 15 minutes before taking the test. The study will measure stress using heart rate, blood pressure, saliva samples, and a stress questionnaire.
Detailed description
This pilot study examines whether a brief mindfulness meditation intervention, administered immediately before cognitive testing, can reduce measurement bias caused by test-related anxiety in older adults from low-income, low-education backgrounds. Participants are randomized to a 15-minute guided mindfulness meditation session or a 15-minute neutral story-listening control session, both administered immediately before the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Physiological stress markers (heart rate variability, blood pressure, salivary pH) and self-reported anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) are assessed to evaluate the intervention's effect on stress. Assessments and physiological data collection are administered via a custom application developed by the study team, which standardizes test administration and scoring.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness Meditation | Experimental | Behavioral: Guided Mindfulness MeditationParticipants complete a 15-minute guided mindfulness meditation session immediately before completing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). |
| Story-Listening Control | Active comparator | Behavioral: Neutral Story ListeningParticipants listen to a 15-minute neutral, non-mindfulness story immediately before completing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 50 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age 50 years or older
- Self-identified low educational attainment (high school diploma or less)
- Low socioeconomic status per local criteria
- Able to provide informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Diagnosis of dementia
- Uncorrected hearing impairment preventing completion of the audio-guided intervention
- Uncorrected vision impairment preventing completion of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
- Current regular mindfulness meditation practice
- Diagnosis of atrial fibrillation
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Guided Mindfulness MeditationA 15-minute audio-guided mindfulness meditation session delivered via the study application, administered immediately before cognitive testing. | Behavioural | Mindfulness Meditation |
| Neutral Story ListeningA 15-minute audio recording of a neutral, non-mindfulness-based story delivered via the study application, administered once immediately before cognitive testing. | Behavioural | Story-Listening Control |
Primary outcome
Change in MoCA Total Score
Time frame: Immediately following the 15-minute intervention session (single study visit)
Cognitive performance measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), ranging from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance, administered by an examiner immediately after the assigned 15-minute intervention session.
10 secondary outcomes
Change in Heart Rate Variability
Time frame: Baseline to immediately post-session
Change in Systolic Blood Pressure
Time frame: Baseline to immediately post-session
Change in Salivary pH
Time frame: Baseline to immediately post-session
Change in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Score
Time frame: Baseline to immediately post-assessment
Change in Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) Score
Time frame: Baseline to immediately post-assessment
Recruitment Rate
Time frame: Up to 4 months
Retention Rate
Time frame: Day 1
Intervention Adherence
Time frame: Day 1
Participant Acceptability
Time frame: Day 1
Task Feasibility (Participant-Reported)
Time frame: Day 1
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 9 Nov 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Data sharing plans have not yet been finalized. As a pilot study with a small sample size (n=60), the investigators will determine after study completion whether de-identified individual participant data will be made available, and if so, under what conditions (e.g., data use agreement, timeframe, and mechanism of access).
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
4 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Guided Mindfulness Meditation and Neutral Story Listening in people with Test Anxiety and Stress, Psychological, run by University of South Carolina at 4 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 4 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Mina Karami, PhD Student (18032614523, karamim@email.sc.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in MoCA Total Score (time frame: Immediately following the 15-minute intervention session (single study visit)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 9 Nov 2026.