Mindful Awareness and Blood Markers in Mild Cognitive Impairment: ELISA for an IMU-Led Pilot Study
Researchers led by IMU University tested whether 21 days of guided mindful awareness practice changes blood markers in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The study's ELISA tests were performed at the Prima Nexus laboratory.
Case study · From a published paper · ELISA testing service
The challenge
Mild cognitive impairment is the stage between normal ageing and dementia. The kynurenine pathway breaks down the amino acid tryptophan, and the enzymes that drive it become more active with stress and inflammation. Very few studies have looked at this pathway in people with mild cognitive impairment, so the research team asked whether a short daily practice of mindful awareness could change these blood markers.
What Prima Nexus did
Blood samples were taken at the start (day 0) and after the practice (day 21). The stress hormone cortisol and the inflammation signal interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) were measured by ELISA, and the paper states that the ELISA was performed at the Prima Nexus laboratory. The kynurenine pathway markers were measured at a laboratory at Macquarie University in Australia.
What the study found
Forty adults joined and 36 completed the study: 17 practised 30 minutes of guided breathing and body scans each day, and 19 kept to their usual routine. In the practice group, tryptophan and kynurenine fell and IFN-γ rose. In the usual-routine group, cortisol and IFN-γ rose and tryptophan fell.
Most differences between the two groups were not significant, and mood scores did not change significantly. The authors note that thinking tests were not repeated after the practice, and call for longer studies with more participants.
Why it matters
Small pilot trials need reliable measurements so that the next, larger study can be planned with confidence. Prima Nexus runs ELISA testing for clinical and human studies in Malaysia.
In the paper's own words
“ELISA was performed at the Prima Nexus laboratory, Malaysia”
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra, 2026, Methods
About Prima Nexus
Founded in 2014, Prima Nexus Sdn Bhd is a Malaysian research, scientific consulting and integrated research support company advancing scientific discovery and healthcare innovation. We provide end-to-end research solutions, from early-stage discovery and experimental design to cell-based studies, preclinical animal testing, clinical trials and commercialization. Our multidisciplinary expertise spans genomics, genetic applications, proteomics, molecular biology, stem cell research, bioinformatics and clinical research. Through strategic collaborations with universities, research institutions, industry and global technology partners, we connect scientific expertise and advanced technologies to accelerate research into real-world applications. Our collaborations have supported more than 150 papers in peer-reviewed journals and research teams at more than 40 institutions across Malaysia. More about Prima Nexus.
