What Is the Molecular Signature of Mind-Body Interventions?:A Systematic Review of Gene Expression Changes Induced by Meditation and Related Practices

Contains fulltext : 173849.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)There is considerable evidence for the effectiveness of mind-body interventions (MBIs) in improving mental and physical health, but the molecular mechanisms of these benefits remain poorly understood. One hypothesis is that MBIs reverse expression of genes involved in inflammatory reactions that are induced by stress. This systematic review was conducted to 25 examine changes in gene expression that occur after MBIs and to explore how these molecular changes are related to health. We searched PubMed throughout September 2016 to look for studies that have used gene expression analysis in MBIs (i.e., mindfulness, yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, relaxation response, and breath regulation). Due to the limited quantity of studies, we included both clinical and non-clinical samples with any type of research design. Eighteen relevant studies were retrieved and analysed. Overall, the studies indicate that these practices are associated with a downregulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) pathway; this is the opposite of the effects of chronic stress on gene expression and suggests that MBI practices may lead to a reduced risk of inflammation-related diseases. However, it is unclear how the effects of MBIs compare to other healthy interventions such as exercise or nutrition due to the small number of available studies. More research is required to be able to understand the effects of MBIs at the molecular level.17 p

Physical and Psychological Effects of Qigong Exercise in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: An Exploratory Study

Older adults need exercise programs that correspond to age-related changes. The purpose of this study was to explore preliminary effects of an 8-week Qigong exercise intervention on the physical ability, functional and psychological health, and spiritual well-being of community-dwelling older adults. Forty-five community-dwelling adults with the mean age of 74.8 years participated a 1-h Health Qigong exercise session twice weekly for 8 weeks. The majority were female (84%) and white (91%), and lived with their spouse (49%). Physical ability (p < 0.001), functional health (p = 0.001), balance (p < 0.001), functional reach (p < 0.001), depression (p = 0.005), and spiritual well-being (p = 0.004) improved significantly after the 8-week intervention. Most participants perceived physical ability, mental health, and spiritual well-being benefits. No adverse events were reported. A twice weekly Qigong exercise program over 8 weeks is feasible and has potential to improve physical ability, functional health, balance, psychological health, and spiritual well-being in older adults

Modified Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Intervention in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) have a high incidence of anxiety. This pilot study established feasibility and examined potential effects of mindfulness based stress reduction, modified for people with COPD. Primary outcomes included; sense of coherence, mindfulness, emotional function, mastery of disease, symptoms of dyspnea, fatigue and breathing patterns. Methods: Subjects with COPD were recruited from pulmonary rehabilitation programs and randomized to 8 weeks of modified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or waitlist control. The following measures were taken before and after the intervention: Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI-3), Friedburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI), Sense of Coherence (SOC), Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ) and breathing timing parameters via inductive plethysmography. Results: Forty-eight subjects were enrolled, 6 were dropped due to low enrollment at their site. Three chose to drop out of the study (N = 36). There were significant interaction effects (time X group) for the FMI (P = 0.02) and respiratory rate (P = 0.05). The treatment group decreased FMI and increased respiratory rate and the control group increased FMI with no change in respiratory rate. CRQ Emotion correlated with the number of classes attended (r = .347, P = 0.05). Those attending 1 meditation class: ASI-3 (41.50 vs 17.73, P = 0.00); CRQ Mastery (2.81 vs 4.9, P = 0.00); CRQ Emotion (2.81; mean vs 4.89, P = 0.00); CRQ Fatigue (2.35 vs 4.09, P = 0.01) SOC (51.85 (13.17) vs 66.41 (12.82), P = 0.01); FMI (33.71 (8.16) vs 41.42 (8.05), P = 0.03). . Discussion: The decline in mindfulness scores and the increase in respiratory rate in the treatment group were unexpected but likely indicate that a longer intervention is needed. The differences between attenders and non-attenders could indicate a need for a longer time spent introducing beginning meditation skills. These results combined with other evidence from this study will aid in designing future meditation programs for persons with COPD.PHDNursingUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98055/1/rrchan_1.pd

Mindfulness for the Millennial Generation: A Clinician\u27s Handbook for College Counseling Centers

The current generation of college students, the Millennials (Howe & Strauss, 2000, 2007) lead highly pressured and achievement-oriented lives. Along with generational changes, change is occurring on university campuses, especially in terms of mental health demographics. There is an increase in the severity of presenting concerns reported by students as seen at counseling centers (Gallagher, 2008), and more students with existing mental health diagnoses are seeking college admissions (Gallagher, 2009). Changes in the current college student generation and socio-cultural changes underscore the need for an effective stress-reduction program for university students. Mindfulness-based interventions have received attention from researchers and clinicians. The current dissertation modifies the traditional Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (Kabat-Zinn, 1990) to propose a new format for facilitating a mindfulness group suited for beginning meditators within the Millennial college student population. In addition to emphasizing flexibility of the group program, the handbook includes information on conducting pre-group screening, debriefing, assessment of members\u27 mindfulness skills, and allied mindfulness practices such as Tai chi and Qigong. Future directions include gathering empirical support for the proposed format and including practices suitable for college students with severe psychological concerns

Post traumatic stress symptoms and heart rate variability in Bihar flood survivors following yoga: a randomized controlled study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An earlier study showed that a week of yoga practice was useful in stress management after a natural calamity. Due to heavy rain and a rift on the banks of the Kosi river, in the state of Bihar in north India, there were floods with loss of life and property. A week of yoga practice was given to the survivors a month after the event and the effect was assessed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty-two volunteers (group average age ± S.D, 31.5 ± 7.5 years; all of them were males) were randomly assigned to two groups, yoga and a non-yoga wait-list control group. The yoga group practiced yoga for an hour daily while the control group continued with their routine activities. Both groups' heart rate variability, breath rate, and four symptoms of emotional distress using visual analog scales, were assessed on the first and eighth day of the program.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was a significant decrease in sadness in the yoga group (p < 0.05, paired t-test, post data compared to pre) and an increase in anxiety in the control group (p < 0.05, paired t-test, post data compared to pre).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A week of yoga can reduce feelings of sadness and possibly prevent an increase in anxiety in flood survivors a month after the calamity.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Clinical Trials Registry of India: CTRI/2009/091/000285</p

Complementary and Alternative Medicine: The History, Current Prevalence, and Future Projections

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been used for centuries. Common methods include chiropractic, diet, yoga, and prayer. Though some methods have proven more successful than others, many have insufficient data to support claims of effectiveness. A survey of medical professionals involving twenty-seven CAM methods was conducted in order to evaluate modern perceptions of complementary and alternative medicine. They were asked their experience with CAM, their personal opinion regarding its effectiveness, and how likely they would be to recommend a CAM treatment to a patient. It has been hypothesized that more CAM treatments will be utilized in the future. This is most likely due to rising health care costs, greater individual exploration, and more data to support CAM claims

Effects of Qigong Exercise on Physical and Psychological Health among African Americans

Interventions are needed to address physical and psychological health in middle-aged and older African Americans (AAs). The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of an eight-week Qigong exercise on physical ability and function, balance, frailty, depression and anxiety, and spiritual well-being in AAs using a single-group design. Fifteen AAs with a mean age of 64 years received Qigong exercise over 16 semi-weekly, one-hour sessions. The majority were female (93.3%) and college-level educated (53.3%). Repeat chair stands, physical function, and spiritual well-being improved significantly (p < .05) with effect sizes ranging from .45 to .87. Over 52% of participants showed improved depression scores, fast gait speed, and standing balance. Nearly 42% demonstrated some frailty improvement over baseline. No adverse events were reported. Qigong exercise potentially improves the physical ability and function, and spiritual well-being of AAs and needs further testing in a randomized clinical trial

Meditation states and traits in Australian Yoga practitioners: the effect of proficiency and practice on “sense of self”

The effects of meditation practice can be divided into changes occurring during the practice (state changes) and those persisting beyond the practice (trait changes), making permanent changes in self-perception and one’s ‘sense of self’. This project investigated both effects of Yoga meditation in ‘advanced’ Yoga teachers and students with ‘short-term’ experience from two Yoga traditions practised in Australia, Satyananda Yoga and Yoga in Daily Life. A qualitative study charted the personal journey of Australian Yoga practitioners in coming to meditation, their experiences in meditation and its effects on their daily life. Exact low resolution tomography (eLORETA) analysis of participants’ EEG data measured the location and frequency of brain activity during meditation and a calculation control condition. The major finding was a proficiency-related difference in location and frequency between the Satyananda teacher and student groups. The teacher group showed higher gamma band activity predominantly in the right temporal and right ventral prefrontal cortex, while the student group showed higher alpha1 band activity in the right somatosensory and right premotor cortex. These regions have been linked to alterations in one’s ‘sense of self’ derived from awareness of the body’s internal space. This is the first study to show enhanced gamma band activation in Western Yoga practitioners, converging with similar evidence from advanced Buddhist practitioners. The brain activity differences between the student and teacher groups were interpreted as reflecting the traditional Yoga stages of pratyahara and dharana, a difference also evident in the groups’ subjective descriptions of their meditation experiences. The results are interpreted as evidence of changes in meditation states and traits with increasing proficiency, leading alterations in one’s ‘sense of self’