Abstract
BackgroundMindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have previously been associated with structural gray matter changes in normal healthy adults. However, it remains unknown if standardized MBIs can induce similar changes in older adults and those with health complaints as well. The objective of this investigation was to examine the effect of a standardized MBI on the gray matter tissue of older adults with sleep disturbances.MethodsThis exploratory single-group pilot longitudinal study examined local gray matter changes over a six-week MBI period. Participants included six older adult community volunteers (M=66.5 years of age, SD=5.5, range=58–75; 66% female) with sleep disturbances recruited through advertisement in local newspapers/flyers posted at a university medical center and affiliated clinics in Los Angeles, CA. The MBI was delivered as a weekly, two-hour, six-session, group-based course in mindfulness meditation. Gray matter was measured voxel-wise pre- and post-intervention.ResultsA significant gray matter increase was identified within the precuneus, possibly implicating meditation-induced changes of the default mode network. In contrast, observed significant gray matter decreases may have been driven by MBI-related remediation of brain architecture subserving sleep complaints.ConclusionsExploratory findings suggest that mindfulness meditation practice is associated with a detectable alteration of cerebral gray matter in older adults.
Highlights
Mindfulness-based Interventions (MBIs) train participants in formalized and systematic mainstreamed mindfulness meditation practices, which are shown to impart significant improvements in stress-related ailments in age groups spanning childhood[1] to adulthood.[2]
Exploratory findings suggest that mindfulness meditation practice is associated with a detectable alteration of cerebral gray matter in older adults
Data-generating study, we examine pre-to-post changes in cerebral gray matter volume in older adults with sleep disturbance symptoms who participated in a sixweek formalized MBI
Summary
Mindfulness-based Interventions (MBIs) train participants in formalized and systematic mainstreamed mindfulness meditation practices, which are shown to impart significant improvements in stress-related ailments in age groups spanning childhood[1] to adulthood.[2]. As shown with magnetic resonance imaging, MBIs as brief as eight weeks can modulate the brain structure of young and mid-aged adults,[5,6] and several crosssectional studies note significant links between mindfulness practice and gray matter configuration.[7,8,9,10] as the effects of MBIs on brain structure have been predominantly investigated in younger and middle-aged cohorts, it remains unknown if and how MBIs impact brain structure in older adults In this exploratory, data-generating study, we examine pre-to-post changes in cerebral gray matter volume in older adults with sleep disturbance symptoms who participated in a sixweek formalized MBI. The objective of this investigation was to examine the effect of a standardized MBI on the gray matter tissue of older adults with sleep disturbances
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