title: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults: a small randomized controlled trial.
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.
authors: Department of Psychology and Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States. creswell@cmu.edu
authors: J David
authors: JD
authors: Creswell
authors: Michael R
authors: MR
authors: Irwin
authors: Lisa J
authors: LJ
authors: Burklund
authors: Matthew D
authors: MD
authors: Lieberman
authors: Jesusa M G
authors: JM
authors: Arevalo
authors: Jeffrey
authors: J
authors: Ma
authors: Elizabeth Crabb
authors: EC
authors: Breen
authors: Steven W
authors: SW
authors: Cole
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; D002097:C-Reactive Protein