UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain, Davis, CA 95618, USA.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2011 Jun;36(5):664-81. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.09.010. Epub 2010 Oct 29.
Telomerase activity is a predictor of long-term cellular viability, which decreases with chronic psychological distress (Epel et al., 2004). Buddhist traditions claim that meditation decreases psychological distress and promotes well-being (e.g., Dalai Lama and Cutler, 2009). Therefore, we investigated the effects of a 3-month meditation retreat on telomerase activity and two major contributors to the experience of stress: Perceived Control (associated with decreased stress) and Neuroticism (associated with increased subjective distress). We used mediation models to test whether changes in Perceived Control and Neuroticism explained meditation retreat effects on telomerase activity. In addition, we investigated whether two qualities developed by meditative practice, increased Mindfulness and Purpose in Life, accounted for retreat-related changes in the two stress-related variables and in telomerase activity.
Retreat participants (n=30) meditated for ∼6 h daily for 3 months and were compared with a wait-list control group (n=30) matched for age, sex, body mass index, and prior meditation experience. Retreat participants received instruction in concentrative meditation techniques and complementary practices used to cultivate benevolent states of mind (Wallace, 2006). Psychological measures were assessed pre- and post-retreat. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples were collected post-retreat for telomerase activity. Because there were clear, a priori hypotheses, 1-tailed significance criteria were used throughout.
Telomerase activity was significantly greater in retreat participants than in controls at the end of the retreat (p<0.05). Increases in Perceived Control, decreases in Neuroticism, and increases in both Mindfulness and Purpose in Life were greater in the retreat group (p<0.01). Mediation analyses indicated that the effect of the retreat on telomerase was mediated by increased Perceived Control and decreased Neuroticism. In turn, changes in Perceived Control and Neuroticism were both partially mediated by increased Mindfulness and Purpose in Life. Additionally, increases in Purpose in Life directly mediated the telomerase group difference, whereas increases in Mindfulness did not.
This is the first study to link meditation and positive psychological change with telomerase activity. Although we did not measure baseline telomerase activity, the data suggest that increases in perceived control and decreases in negative affectivity contributed to an increase in telomerase activity, with implications for telomere length and immune cell longevity. Further, Purpose in Life is influenced by meditative practice and directly affects both perceived control and negative emotionality, affecting telomerase activity directly as well as indirectly.
端粒酶活性是长期细胞活力的预测指标，随着慢性心理压力的增加而降低（Epel 等人，2004）。佛教传统声称冥想可以减轻心理压力，促进幸福感（例如，达赖喇嘛和卡特勒，2009）。因此，我们调查了为期 3 个月的冥想静修对端粒酶活性和压力体验的两个主要贡献因素的影响：感知控制（与压力降低相关）和神经质（与主观压力增加相关）。我们使用中介模型来测试感知控制和神经质的变化是否可以解释冥想静修对端粒酶活性的影响。此外，我们还调查了冥想实践所培养的两种品质，即正念和生活目标，是否可以解释与静修相关的两个与压力相关的变量以及端粒酶活性的变化。
静修参与者（n=30）每天冥想约 6 小时，持续 3 个月，并与年龄、性别、体重指数和之前冥想经验相匹配的等待名单对照组（n=30）进行比较。静修参与者接受了专注冥想技术的指导，并接受了培养仁慈心态的补充实践（华莱士，2006）。在静修前后评估心理测量。静修结束后采集外周血单核细胞样本进行端粒酶活性检测。由于存在明确的先验假设，因此在整个研究中使用了单侧显着性标准。
静修参与者的端粒酶活性在静修结束时明显高于对照组（p<0.05）。感知控制的增加、神经质的降低以及正念和生活目标的增加在静修组中更为明显（p<0.01）。中介分析表明，静修对端粒酶的影响是通过增加感知控制和降低神经质来介导的。反过来，感知控制和神经质的变化都部分通过增加正念和生活目标来介导。此外，生活目标的增加直接介导了端粒酶组间差异，而正念的增加则没有。
这是第一项将冥想和积极的心理变化与端粒酶活性联系起来的研究。虽然我们没有测量基线端粒酶活性，但数据表明，感知控制的增加和消极情绪的减少有助于端粒酶活性的增加，这对端粒长度和免疫细胞寿命有影响。此外，生活目标受冥想实践的影响，并直接影响感知控制和消极情绪，直接影响端粒酶活性，也通过间接途径影响端粒酶活性。
