Effects of Meditation and Music-Listening on Blood Biomarkers of Cellular Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease in Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline: An Exploratory Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Telomere length (TL), telomerase activity (TA), and plasma amyloid-β(Aβ) levels have emerged as possible predictors of cognitive decline and dementia. Objective: To assess the: 1) effects of two 12-week relaxation programs on TL, TA, and Aβ levels in adults with subjective cognitive decline; and 2) relationship of biomarker changes to those in cognitive function, psychosocial status, and quality of life (QOL). Methods: Participants were randomized to a 12-week Kirtan Kriya meditation (KK) or music listening (ML) program and asked to practice 12 minutes/day. Plasma Aβ(38/40/42) and peripheral blood mononuclear cell TL and TA were measured at baseline and 3 months. Cognition, stress, sleep, mood, and QOL were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: Baseline blood samples were available for 53 participants (25 KK, 28 ML). The KK group showed significantly greater increases in Aβ40 than the ML group. TA rose in both groups, although increases were significant only among those with higher practice adherence and lower baseline TA. Changes in both TL and TA varied by their baseline values, with greater increases among participants with values ≤50th percentile (ps-interaction <0.006). Both groups improved in cognitive and psychosocial status (ps ≤0.05), with improvements in stress, mood, and QOL greater in the KK group. Rising Aβ levels were correlated with gains in cognitive function, mood, sleep, and QOL at both 3 and 6 months, associations that were particularly pronounced in the KK group. Increases in TL and TA were also correlated with improvements in certain cognitive and psychosocial measures. Conclusion: Practice of simple mind-body therapies may alter plasma Aβ levels, TL, and TA. Biomarker increases were associated with improvements in cognitive function, sleep, mood, and QOL, suggesting potential functional relationships.

Can Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment Build Cognitive Reserve and Learn Mindfulness Meditation? Qualitative Theme Analyses from a Small Pilot Study

“…Several recent reviews of meditation interventions (of either Kirtan Kriya Meditation or mindfulness-based programs) [64] and yoga interventions [65] report on 11 additional studies [66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78] that have demonstrated benefits in adults with subjective cognitive decline, MCI, and AD. Since these reviews, an additional study of tai chi in older adults at risk for cognitive decline has been published, [79] along with mindfulness studies in adults with subjective cognitive decline, [80,81] MCI, [82] and dementia. [83,84] The study designs and outcomes from these studies are very heterogeneous, and most studies were small and considered pilot/feasibility (except for two studies with sample sizes over 110 [70,79]).…”

“…Shorter meditation interventions (such as with Kirtan Kriya) have shown positive outcomes in quality of life and cognition in adults with subjective cognitive decline. [80,81] Future studies could compare such shorter meditation interventions (such as with Kirtan Kriya meditation) to MBSR in adults with MCI to assess if shorter programs may provide the same benefits seen in this study. Given such limitations, many are looking for more time-efficient ways to learn mindfulness and ways to increase access.…”

A Novel Nutraceutical Formulation Can Improve Motor Activity and Decrease the Stress Level in a Murine Model of Middle-Age Animals

“…Several interventions have been previously studied for preventing cognitive and physical decline and maintaining physical performance, mobility and independence in the elderly such as a healthy lifestyle [7,8], meditation [9][10][11], cognitive training [12], pharmaceuticals [13], plant extracts [14][15][16][17] and nutraceuticals [14,18,19].…”

Spiritual Fitness: A New Dimension in Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention

“…In turn, differences between normal aging and MCI appear to be driven in large measure by amyloid-β burden [ 77 ]. Of note is that KK may decrease brain amyloid-β burden as evidenced by increased plasma amyloid-β [ 61 ].…”