Faculty Collaboration Database

Toward identifying the effects of the specific components of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on biologic and emotional outcomes among older adults. J Altern Complement Med 2013 Oct;19(10):787-92

Date

02/07/2013

Pubmed ID

23383976

Pubmed Central ID

PMC3804316

DOI

10.1089/acm.2012.0028

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84885732011 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   60 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of specific Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) activities (yoga, sitting and informal meditation, body scan) on immune function, circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 concentrations, and positive affect among older adults.

DESIGN: The study design comprised longitudinal analyses of data from subjects in an 8-week MBSR program.

SETTING: The study was conducted at a University-affiliated health center.

SUBJECTS: This study involved 100 community-dwelling older adults. Inclusion criteria were as follows: ≥65 years of age and English-speaking.

INTERVENTION: This was an 8-week MBSR program.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Interleukin (IL)-6 and IGF-1 levels were assayed from blood collected at postintervention assessments. Participants were immunized postintervention with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), and immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG KLH-specific antibody responses were measured prior to immunization as well as 3 weeks and 24 weeks postintervention. Participants completed a 10-item measure of positive affect at study entry and postintervention.

RESULTS: Participants maintained weekly practice logs documenting participation in yoga, sitting meditation, informal meditation, and body scan. More practice of yoga was associated with higher post-treatment IGF-1 levels and greater improvement in positive affect from study entry to postintervention. Sitting meditation was positively associated with post-treatment IGF-1. Greater use of body scanning was associated with reduced antigen-specific IgM and IgG 3 weeks postintervention but not 24 weeks. No associations were found between MBSR activities and IL-6 levels.

CONCLUSIONS: Practice of MBSR activities, particularly yoga, could provide benefits for specific aspects of physiologic function and positive affect. Changes in adaptive immunity in older adult MBSR practitioners warrant further study.

Author List

Gallegos AM, Hoerger M, Talbot NL, Krasner MS, Knight JM, Moynihan JA, Duberstein PR

Author

Jennifer M. Knight MD, MS Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adaptive Immunity
Aged
Emotions
Female
Hemocyanins
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Interleukin-6
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Meditation
Mind-Body Therapies
Mindfulness
Stress, Psychological
Treatment Outcome
Yoga