title: Decrease in blood pressure and improved psychological aspects through meditation training in hypertensive older adults: A randomized control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of Zen meditation on blood pressure (BP) and quality of life in elderly subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 59 volunteers (21 men and 38 women), aged ≥60 years with systolic BP between 130 and 159 mmHg and diastolic BP between 85 and 99 mmHg, were randomly divided into a meditation group (MG), n = 28 and a control group (CG), n = 31. The MG meditated twice a day for 20 min for 3 months, and the CG remained on a waiting list. The BP levels were measured monthly in both groups. The volunteers' medication was kept stable. A quality of life assessment instrument was applied at the beginning and end of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For systolic BP, analysis of variance showed the influence of time (F(4,228)  = 4.74, P < 0.01, β = 0.98) and the interaction group × time (F(4,228)  = 3.07, P < 0.01, β = 0.89). The MG showed a significant decrease in systolic BP levels in the second measurement after 1 month of meditation practice when compared with the CG (Newman-Keuls test, P < 0.05). Starting at the second measurement, systolic BP levels in the MG were lower than the baseline and first measurement levels; however, the systolic BP levels were similar to those observed in the CG. In the quality of life assessment evaluation, a significant improvement in psychological aspects and overall quality of life in the MG compared with the CG was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that Zen meditation is an interesting tool as a complementary treatment for hypertension in elderly subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Fátima Rosas Marchiori
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.|Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisa Harumi
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kozasa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto Dischinger
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.|Universidade Anhembi Morumbi-Laureate International Universities®, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Luiz
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Monezi Andrade
authors.affiliation: Instituto Visão Futuro, Porangaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiana Caccese
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Perrotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Leite
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents
keywords: elderly; hypertension; meditation; quality of life