J Alzheimers Dis. 2018;66(3):947-970. doi: 10.3233/JAD-180164.
Telomere length (TL), telomerase activity (TA), and plasma amyloid-β (Aβ) levels have emerged as possible predictors of cognitive decline and dementia.
To assess the: 1) effects of two 12-week relaxation programs on TL, TA, and Aβ levels in adults with subjective cognitive decline; and 2) relationship of biomarker changes to those in cognitive function, psychosocial status, and quality of life (QOL).
Participants were randomized to a 12-week Kirtan Kriya meditation (KK) or music listening (ML) program and asked to practice 12 minutes/day. Plasma Aβ(38/40/42) and peripheral blood mononuclear cell TL and TA were measured at baseline and 3 months. Cognition, stress, sleep, mood, and QOL were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.
Baseline blood samples were available for 53 participants (25 KK, 28 ML). The KK group showed significantly greater increases in Aβ40 than the ML group. TA rose in both groups, although increases were significant only among those with higher practice adherence and lower baseline TA. Changes in both TL and TA varied by their baseline values, with greater increases among participants with values ≤50th percentile (ps-interaction <0.006). Both groups improved in cognitive and psychosocial status (ps ≤0.05), with improvements in stress, mood, and QOL greater in the KK group. Rising Aβ levels were correlated with gains in cognitive function, mood, sleep, and QOL at both 3 and 6 months, associations that were particularly pronounced in the KK group. Increases in TL and TA were also correlated with improvements in certain cognitive and psychosocial measures.
Practice of simple mind-body therapies may alter plasma Aβ levels, TL, and TA. Biomarker increases were associated with improvements in cognitive function, sleep, mood, and QOL, suggesting potential functional relationships.
端粒长度（TL）、端粒酶活性（TA）和血浆淀粉样蛋白-β（Aβ）水平已成为认知能力下降和痴呆的可能预测因子。
评估：1）两种为期 12 周的放松计划对有主观认知能力下降的成年人 TL、TA 和 Aβ水平的影响；2）生物标志物变化与认知功能、心理社会状况和生活质量（QOL）变化的关系。
参与者被随机分配到 12 周的克利亚冥想（KK）或音乐聆听（ML）计划，并要求每天练习 12 分钟。在基线和 3 个月时测量血浆 Aβ（38/40/42）和外周血单核细胞 TL 和 TA。在基线、3 个月和 6 个月时评估认知、压力、睡眠、情绪和 QOL。
基线血液样本可用于 53 名参与者（25 名 KK，28 名 ML）。KK 组的 Aβ40 增加明显大于 ML 组。两组 TA 均升高，尽管仅在练习依从性较高和基线 TA 较低的患者中升高有统计学意义。TL 和 TA 的变化因基线值而异，50%分位值以下参与者的增加更大（ps-交互作用<0.006）。两组认知和心理社会状况均有改善（ps≤0.05），KK 组的压力、情绪和 QOL 改善更大。血浆 Aβ 水平升高与 3 个月和 6 个月时认知功能、情绪、睡眠和 QOL 的改善相关，在 KK 组中尤其明显。TL 和 TA 的增加也与某些认知和心理社会测量的改善相关。
简单身心疗法的练习可能会改变血浆 Aβ 水平、TL 和 TA。生物标志物的增加与认知功能、睡眠、情绪和 QOL 的改善相关，表明存在潜在的功能关系。
