Sophia Weiner-Light1, Katherine P Rankin2, Serggio Lanata2, Katherine L Possin3, Daniel Dohan4, Alissa Bernstein Sideman5. 1. Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, California; Department of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address: sophia.wl@northwestern.edu. 2. Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, California. 3. Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, California; Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco and Trinity College Dublin. 4. Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, California. 5. Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco and Trinity College Dublin; Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, California; Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate ways in which spirituality was conceptualized in relationship to maintaining brain health and healthy aging in a cohort of older adults who immigrated to the United States from diverse regions of Latin America, in order to ultimately develop culturally-tailored brain health promotion approaches. DESIGN: We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. SETTING: Participants were recruited from community centers and by a memory care center at a large academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: We interviewed 30 Spanish-speaking immigrants over age 60. Questions addressed perspectives about the brain, aging, and dementia. Interviews were coded for themes. MEASUREMENTS: Thematic analysis was used to analyze participants' responses. RESULTS: We identified 5 themes: (1) expressing gratitude to God for mental and physical health, (2) putting the onus of life and death in God's hands, (3) using church as a place to socialize and build community as an approach to leading a healthy lifestyle, (4) using prayer as nourishment for the soul and the brain, and (5) gaining inner-peace and calm, and thus maintaining a healthy life, due to a connection with God. CONCLUSION: The incorporation of customized spiritual interventions may be a mechanism by which to increase the effectiveness of brain health promotion efforts.
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate ways in which spirituality was conceptualized in relationship to maintaining brain health and healthy aging in a cohort of older adults who immigrated to the United States from diverse regions of Latin America, in order to ultimately develop culturally-tailored brain health promotion approaches. DESIGN: We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. SETTING: Participants were recruited from community centers and by a memory care center at a large academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: We interviewed 30 Spanish-speaking immigrants over age 60. Questions addressed perspectives about the brain, aging, and dementia. Interviews were coded for themes. MEASUREMENTS: Thematic analysis was used to analyze participants' responses. RESULTS: We identified 5 themes: (1) expressing gratitude to God for mental and physical health, (2) putting the onus of life and death in God's hands, (3) using church as a place to socialize and build community as an approach to leading a healthy lifestyle, (4) using prayer as nourishment for the soul and the brain, and (5) gaining inner-peace and calm, and thus maintaining a healthy life, due to a connection with God. CONCLUSION: The incorporation of customized spiritual interventions may be a mechanism by which to increase the effectiveness of brain health promotion efforts.
Authors: Brittany O'Brien; Srijana Shrestha; Melinda A Stanley; Kenneth I Pargament; Jeremy Cummings; Mark E Kunik; Terri L Fletcher; Jose Cortes; David Ramsey; Amber B Amspoker Journal: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2018-10-30 Impact factor: 3.485