OBJECTIVE: Mindfulness interventions have been effective for improving a range of health outcomes; however, pathways underlying these effects remain unclear. Inflammatory processes may play a role, possibly through increased resistance of immune cells to the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids (i.e., glucocorticoid resistance, or GCR). Here, we conducted an initial examination of whether mindfulness training mitigates GCR among lonely older adults. METHODS: Lonely older adults (65-85 years; n = 190) were randomly assigned to an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or a matched Health Enhancement Program (HEP). Whole blood drawn before and after the intervention and at 3-month follow-up was incubated with endotoxin and varying concentrations of dexamethasone, and interleukin-6 production was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. GCR was assessed as the concentration of dexamethasone required to decrease the stimulated interleukin-6 response by 50% (half maximal inhibitory concentration), with higher concentrations indicating greater GCR. Mixed-effects linear models tested time (pre, post, follow-up) by condition (MBSR versus HEP) effects. RESULTS: There was no overall time by condition effect on GCR across all time points. However, a significant time by condition effect was observed from preintervention to postintervention (d = 0.29), such that MBSR buffered increases in GCR observed in the HEP group. Although MBSR showed small, nonsignificant reductions in GCR from preintervention to 3-month follow-up, group differences were not maintained at the 3-month follow-up (d = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that MBSR may protect against declines in the sensitivity of immune cells to the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids among at-risk lonely older adults and show value in studying this biological mechanism in future trials.Trial Registration: Clinical Trials identifier NCT02888600.
OBJECTIVE: Mindfulness interventions have been effective for improving a range of health outcomes; however, pathways underlying these effects remain unclear. Inflammatory processes may play a role, possibly through increased resistance of immune cells to the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids (i.e., glucocorticoid resistance, or GCR). Here, we conducted an initial examination of whether mindfulness training mitigates GCR among lonely older adults. METHODS: Lonely older adults (65-85 years; n = 190) were randomly assigned to an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or a matched Health Enhancement Program (HEP). Whole blood drawn before and after the intervention and at 3-month follow-up was incubated with endotoxin and varying concentrations of dexamethasone, and interleukin-6 production was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. GCR was assessed as the concentration of dexamethasone required to decrease the stimulated interleukin-6 response by 50% (half maximal inhibitory concentration), with higher concentrations indicating greater GCR. Mixed-effects linear models tested time (pre, post, follow-up) by condition (MBSR versus HEP) effects. RESULTS: There was no overall time by condition effect on GCR across all time points. However, a significant time by condition effect was observed from preintervention to postintervention (d = 0.29), such that MBSR buffered increases in GCR observed in the HEP group. Although MBSR showed small, nonsignificant reductions in GCR from preintervention to 3-month follow-up, group differences were not maintained at the 3-month follow-up (d = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that MBSR may protect against declines in the sensitivity of immune cells to the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids among at-risk lonely older adults and show value in studying this biological mechanism in future trials.Trial Registration: Clinical Trials identifier NCT02888600.
Authors: Donal G MacCoon; Zac E Imel; Melissa A Rosenkranz; Jenna G Sheftel; Helen Y Weng; Jude C Sullivan; Katherine A Bonus; Catherine M Stoney; Tim V Salomons; Richard J Davidson; Antoine Lutz Journal: Behav Res Ther Date: 2011-11-11
Authors: Frank B Hu; Walter C Willett; Tricia Li; Meir J Stampfer; Graham A Colditz; JoAnn E Manson Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2004-12-23 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: J David Creswell; Michael R Irwin; Lisa J Burklund; Matthew D Lieberman; Jesusa M G Arevalo; Jeffrey Ma; Elizabeth Crabb Breen; Steven W Cole Journal: Brain Behav Immun Date: 2012-07-20 Impact factor: 7.217
Authors: Mary-Frances O'Connor; Julie E Bower; Hyong Jin Cho; J David Creswell; Stoyan Dimitrov; Mary E Hamby; Michael A Hoyt; Jennifer L Martin; Theodore F Robles; Erica K Sloan; Kamala S Thomas; Michael R Irwin Journal: Brain Behav Immun Date: 2009-04-21 Impact factor: 7.217
Authors: Julienne E Bower; Gail Greendale; Alexandra D Crosswell; Deborah Garet; Beth Sternlieb; Patricia A Ganz; Michael R Irwin; Richard Olmstead; Jesusa Arevalo; Steve W Cole Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology Date: 2014-01-30 Impact factor: 4.905