Study: Meditation May Reduce Loneliness

Older adults who regularly meditate may feel less lonely and have better overall health than those who don?t, according to a recent study. In the study, healthy adults were separated into two groups, one of which participated in a mindfulness program lasting eight weeks and one of which did not. The adults who participated in the mindfulness program experienced positive changes in genes associated with inflammation, and reported lesser levels of loneliness in comparison to adults in the control group.

Loneliness and Alzheimer?s Disease

Previous studies have found that both inflammation and loneliness can lead to a greater risk of developing Alzheimer?s disease, according to the Carnegie Mellon University researchers behind the study. J. David Creswell, a study author and professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon, said that people are frequently told how smoking and overeating can be detrimental to physical health, but are rarely told the same about loneliness and other surface-level mental health issues.

Reductions in Inflammation and Loneliness

In order to conduct their study, the researchers studied 40 healthy adults ranging in age from 55 to 85. The individuals in the mindfulness program group participated in a program involving a one-day retreat, individual meditation and group meetings. These group members learned about various aspects of meditation including breathing techniques, noticing senstations and bodily awareness. They were also instructed to practice these techniques for roughly 30 minutes each day.

Following the program, the individuals in both the mindfulness and control groups were asked to complete a survey intended to measure loneliness. Those in the mindfulness group scored a few points better than those in the control group on average. In describing the study, Creswell compared meditation and other forms of mental training, as well as their resultant effects, to physical training and the effects it has on the body.

Individuals in the mindfulness group also experienced changes in 143 different genes, all of which are tied to inflammation. Inflammation is associated with a wide variety of diseases, including cancer and heart disease, in addition to Alzheimer?s disease.

Steven Cole, a UCLA School of Medicine professor who also contributed to the study, described these gene changes as ?particularly significant.? He said that future research will aim to find how these gene changes specifically reduce the risk of various inflammation-related diseases.

Meditation Must be Done Regularly

As people get older, they become increasingly likely to report feelings of loneliness and isolation regardless of how many friends, family members and acquaintances they have in their lives.

Creswell says that older individuals should not expect a single meditation session or mindfulness program to totally change their lonely feelings. Instead, Creswell said that it?s best to practice meditation every day for at least 15 to 20 minutes. This sort of regularity will give you the greatest chance of seeing beneficial changes in inflammation and loneliness.

It should also be noted that mindfulness programs may not appeal to all older adults. Five of the individuals in the mindfulness group dropped out of the study, while just one individual from the control group dropped out.

The Bottom Line

A recent study conducted at Carnegie Melon University indicates that older individuals may experience reductions in both loneliness and inflammation by participating in regular meditation and other mindfulness activities.

The full text of the study can be found online in the medical journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity.

Source: http://www.fitnesshealth101.com/news/2012/08/13/study-meditation-may-reduce-loneliness/

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