Significant improvement of stress and aging biomarkers using a novel stress management program with the cognitive restructuring method "Pythagorean Self-Awareness Intervention" in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and healthy adults

Abstract

Stress accelerates aging by affecting relevant cellular pathways including, among others, leucocyte telomere length (LTL) and proteasome levels. Their impaired function underlies several age-related and non-communicable conditions, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present study was to investigate, for the first time, the dynamics of stress-related aging factors in the frame of a novel stress-management technique, the Pythagorean Self Awareness Intervention (PSAI), in healthy volunteers and adults with type 2 diabetes. To this end a cohort of 311 healthy volunteers was initially studied and LTL and proteasome levels were analysed in a subgroup of healthy volunteers and adults with type 2 diabetes who were enrolled in the PSAI, with regards to specific physio- and psychometric characteristics of the participants (baseline and post-intervention). We have found a significant improvement of aging biomarkers and of psycho-/bio-factors in all participants. More specifically, post-intervention, both healthy adults and patients with type 2 diabetes demonstrated improved LTL and proteasome levels. Significant improvements were also observed in psychometric, anthropometric and key metabolic features as well as in hair cortisol. In conclusion our results highlighted potential key targets of such interventions and prognostic tools for the assessment of aging pace in clinical practice.