Meditation, Stress Processes, and Telomere Biology

Abstract

Both theoretical and empirical work support the notion that meditation training can improve telomere regulation, which may ultimately contribute to healthy aging. Yet, the psychological and biological mechanisms underlying these changes remain underspecified, as do the contexts and boundary conditions in which these changes occur. Here we summarize studies investigating the effects of various meditation-based interventions on telomere biology, making suggestions for future research. We then propose a model describing how meditation training may impact acute and habitual stress responses as pathways to improved cell aging.Telomeres are DNA-protein complexes that cap and protect eukaryotic chromosomes. 1 These dynamic structures are regulated by an intricate system of proteins and other molecular 2 components, including telomerase-an enzyme capable of elongating telomeres. When 3 telomeres become too short, critical cellular events occur, including cell death or states of 4 prolonged senescence and inflammatory output. As such, telomere length (TL) serves as a 5 reliable indicator of many age-related diseases (e.g., dementia and heart disease [1]). Studies of 6 genetics show that telomere biology plays a small but causal role in disease processes: for 7 example, genetic loading for short TL predicts degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular 8 disease, whereas genetic variation for longer telomeres predicts propensity for certain cancers, 9 including glioma [2]. 10Telomeres generally shorten slowly across the lifespan. There is, however, some degree 11 of malleability to this as telomeres tend to shorten more quickly in individuals exposed to long-12 term psychosocial adversity [3], but appear to stabilize or possibly lengthen in individuals 13 engaged in positive lifestyle interventions (e.g., [4]). Meditation training is one such intervention 14 that seems to beneficially affect telomere biology. In a previous theoretical model, we explored 15 the impact of mindfulness meditation on TL [5]. In the decade since this model was published, a 16 small body of research has emerged addressing the relationship between meditation practice and 17 telomere-related outcomes (telomere length, telomerase activity, or telomere-related gene 18 expression). Here, we review this empirical work and offer an updated model, depicted in Figure 19 1, which illustrates how various aspects of meditation training may impact telomeric regulation 20 by influencing acute and habitual stress processes. 21What we know so far: 22 A total of 19 studies have examined telomere biology in relation to meditation [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. 23These studies vary in quality, though many constitute promising pilot studies that warrant 24 replication and extension. Two cross-sectional studies found longer telomeres in experienced 25 meditators compared to meditation-naive controls (n=20 [7*]; n=13 [6], in women only). The 26 remaining 17 studies examined telomere-related outcomes in relation to interve...

Oxidative stress, telomeres and cellular senescence: What non-drug interventions might break the link?

“…Attenuating the physiological components of the stress response is a reasonable strategy to reduce the effects of psychological stress on telomere length and cellular ageing. In this context, a growing interest in the relationship between telomere length and psychological stress management has emerged over the last few years [99].…”

“…Yoga and meditation are two modalities that might reduce levels of systemic inflammation, stress-hormones and oxidative stress. These practices have also been linked with increases in telomerase activity and/or the amelioration of telomere maintenance in some observational and interventional studies [82,99]. Two studies in particular examined the effect of yoga on telomere-related parameters and redox markers [100,101].…”

“…In considering the biological mechanisms that are recruited by non-pharmacological treatments, one should contemplate the role of telomerase (Figure 1). The weight of evidence suggests that meditation can reactivate telomerase in leukocytes with relatively short interventions [99]. Similarly, mouse and human studies indicate that exercise can also induce an increase in telomerase activity [68,104].…”

“…Notably, in one prospective human study the exercise-induced increase in telomerase activity was shown to precede an increase in telomere length [104]. However, telomerase activity and telomere length do not show always a positive correlation [61,99,105]; thus, whether such re-activation can affect telomere shortening in different scenarios is unclear. Telomerase activity is under multiple controls, some of which are also influenced by redox mechanisms [106].…”

Residential meditation retreats: their role in contemplative practice and significance for psychological research

“…The intensity of the retreat was likely critical for detecting these RESIDENTIAL MEDITATION RETREATS 8 intervention effects, as this was the first study to show an increase in telomere length over such a short duration. Meanwhile, interventions of shorter duration or lower intensity have not demonstrated changes telomere length (see [45], in this special issue).…”