Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults: a small randomized controlled trial.
Title | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults: a small randomized controlled trial. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2012 |
Authors | J Creswell D, Irwin MR, Burklund LJ, Lieberman MD, Arevalo JMG, Ma J, Breen ECrabb, Cole SW |
Journal | Brain Behav Immun |
Volume | 26 |
Issue | 7 |
Pagination | 1095-101 |
Date Published | 2012 Oct |
ISSN | 1090-2139 |
Keywords | Aged, Aged, 80 and over, C-Reactive Protein, Educational Status, Female, Gene Expression, Gene Expression Profiling, Humans, Inflammation, Interleukin-6, Loneliness, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, NF-kappa B, Stress, Psychological |
Abstract | Lonely older adults have increased expression of pro-inflammatory genes as well as increased risk for morbidity and mortality. Previous behavioral treatments have attempted to reduce loneliness and its concomitant health risks, but have had limited success. The present study tested whether the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program (compared to a Wait-List control group) reduces loneliness and downregulates loneliness-related pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults (N = 40). Consistent with study predictions, mixed effect linear models indicated that the MBSR program reduced loneliness, compared to small increases in loneliness in the control group (treatment condition × time interaction: F(1,35) = 7.86, p = .008). Moreover, at baseline, there was an association between reported loneliness and upregulated pro-inflammatory NF-κB-related gene expression in circulating leukocytes, and MBSR downregulated this NF-κB-associated gene expression profile at post-treatment. Finally, there was a trend for MBSR to reduce C Reactive Protein (treatment condition × time interaction: (F(1,33) = 3.39, p = .075). This work provides an initial indication that MBSR may be a novel treatment approach for reducing loneliness and related pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006 |
Alternate Journal | Brain Behav. Immun. |
PubMed ID | 22820409 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3635809 |
Grant List | 5P30 AG028748 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P30 AG028748 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P30-AG107265 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG026364 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG034588 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 CA119159 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States R01 HL079955 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01 MH091352 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States R01-119159 / / PHS HHS / United States R01-AG026364 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01-AG034588 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01-HL079955 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01-MH091352 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States UL1 TR000124 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States |