Tai Chi Improves Cognitive and Physical Function in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

January 30, 2025 psyjdc Leave a comment

Tai Chi Might Help Seniors Counter Mild Cognitive Decline

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

In today’s Research News article “Effects of tai chi based on information and communication technology for patients with mild cognitive impairment on cognitive and physical function: a systematic review and meta-analysis” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11748305/ ) Li and colleagues review, summarize and perform a meta-analysis of the published research studies on the effectiveness of Tai Chi practice for the treatment of cognitive and physical abilities in patients with mild cognitive impairment. They report that the published research studies demonstrate that Tai Chi practice improves both cognitive and physical function in these patients.

Treat mild cognitive impairment with Tai Chi practice.

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog http://contemplative-studies.org

Study Summary

Li Y, Wang Q, Ren Y, Mao X. Effects of tai chi based on information and communication technology for patients with mild cognitive impairment on cognitive and physical function: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health. 2025 Jan 7;12:1495645. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1495645. PMID: 39839400; PMCID: PMC11748305.

Abstract

Objective

This study evaluated the effectiveness of tai chi, enhanced by communication technologies, in improving cognitive and physical functioning in patients with mild cognitive impairment, and to compare these effects with traditional tai chi.

Methods

A systematic search across four academic databases identified 16 studies with 1,877 participants. Data were expressed as weighted or standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals.

Results

A meta-analysis revealed significant improvements in Mini-Mental State Examination scores and Timed Up and Go results in patients with mild cognitive impairment following tai chi intervention. Subgroup analysis indicated that both communication technology-based tai chi and traditional tai chi produced varying improvements in cognitive and physical function.

Conclusion

This study confirms the importance of tai chi for cognitive and physical functioning in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Compared with traditional tai chi, communication technology-based tai chi showed greater benefits in promoting rehabilitation. The effective and feasible interventions could improve the physical health of many older adult patients, these findings provide valuable insights and decision-making guidance for clinical practice and public health with older patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Spirituality Reduces Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients

January 27, 2025 psyjdc Leave a comment

What is Spirituality? | Read & Be Well | Canyon Ranch

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

In today’s Research News article “Spirituality-Based Intervention in Hypertension: EFfects on Blood PrEssure and EndotheliaL Function—FEEL Trial Results” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11759529/) Teixeira and colleagues trained hypertensive patients in spirituality including training in forgiveness, gratitude, optimism, and life purpose. Compared to an untrained control group, the training resulted in significant decreases in systolic blood pressure.

So, improve hypertension with spirituality.

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog http://contemplative-studies.org

Study Summary

Teixeira MEF, Barroso WKS, Brandão AA, Sousa ALL, Esporcatte R, de Borba MHE, Baleeiro ACNÁ, Gonçalves BC, Inumaru E, de Sousa EM, Leal GB, de Araújo Pereira Farias HS, de Souza JA, da Silva LEB, de Paiva Queiroz MC, Moreira FR, de Oliveira Vitorino PV, Eikelboom J, Avezum Á. Spirituality-Based Intervention in Hypertension: EFfects on Blood PrEssure and EndotheliaL Function—FEEL Trial Results. Glob Heart. 2025 Jan 21;20(1):6. doi: 10.5334/gh.1390. PMCID: PMC11759529.

Abstract

Background:

Emerging evidence suggests that spirituality improves patient outcomes, however, this has undergone only limited evaluation in randomized trials. Hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide.

Objectives:

To evaluate whether a spirituality-based intervention, compared to a control group, can reduce blood pressure (BP) and improve endothelial function after 12 weeks in patients with mild or moderate hypertension (HTN).

Methods:

Open randomized controlled trial of adults with stage I or II hypertension. Following baseline evaluation, including lifestyle questionnaires, and measurements of office and central blood pressure (BP), home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) and flow mediated dilation (FMD), patients were randomized to a spirituality-based intervention, which included training for forgiveness, gratitude, optimism, and life purpose delivered by daily WhatsApp communications, or to the control group (CG). Main outcomes were between group difference in change from baseline to 12 weeks in office and central BP, HBPM and FMD, using t-tests, analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusting for baseline differences, and, in addition, missing data imputation as a sensitivity analysis.

Results:

Fifty-one patients were randomized to spirituality-based intervention and 49 to control group. Baseline characteristics were well balanced between groups. Spirituality training, compared with control, improved 7.6 mmHg office systolic blood pressure (SBP), 4.1 mmHg central SBP and 4.1 percentage points FMD. Compared to control group, t-test demonstrated statistical significance for office SBP (–7.04 mmHg, p = 0.047) and FMD (7.46 percentage points, p < 0.001), and ANCOVA adjustment for baseline differences showed statistical significance for central SBP (–6.99 mmHg, p = 0.038) and FFMD (7.95 percentage points, p < 0.001) There was no significant effect on HBPM.

Conclusion:

A spirituality-based intervention was associated with improved control of office SBP and FMD. These findings will be prospectively evaluated in a nationwide larger and well-powered RCT.

Mindful Meditators are More Environmentally Friendly

January 27, 2025 psyjdc Leave a comment

May be an image of grass
By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

In today’s Research News article “How does meditation relate to quality of life, positive lifestyle habits and carbon footprint?” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11730546/) Somarathne and colleagues examined the environmentally friendly behaviors of skilled meditators. They found that meditator’s mindfulness was associated with higher levels of environmentally friendly behaviors.

Hence, mindfulness is associated with environmentally friendly behaviors.

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog http://contemplative-studies.org

Study Summary

Somarathne EASK, Gunathunga MW, Lokupitiya E. How does meditation relate to quality of life, positive lifestyle habits and carbon footprint? Heliyon. 2024 Dec 12;11(1):e41144. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e41144. PMID: 39811348; PMCID: PMC11730546.

Abstract
There is increasing scientific interest in the potential links between meditation practice and pro-environmental behaviours. The present research investigates relationships between Vipassana meditation experience (temporal variables of meditation, five facets of trait mindfulness), positive lifestyle habits (PLH), quality of life (QoL) and per-head carbon footprint (CF) among 25 skilled meditators. Self-reported validated questionnaires were given to a group of native speakers of Sri Lanka to collect data on meditation experience, PLH, and perceived QoL. In estimating CF four domains (food and beverage consumption, electricity consumption, traveling and solid waste disposal) were considered. Correlation analyses revealed that trait mindfulness showed strong associations (r > 0.4) with PLH. None of the temporal variables of meditation experience was significantly correlated with any domain of CF. Two facets of mindfulness (observing and non-reactivity to present-moment experience) demonstrated statistically strong associations (p < 0.05) with perceived QoL. It was found that the PLH significantly mediates the relationship between the observing facet of trait mindfulness and CF associated with food and beverage consumption (indirect effect – 0.002, SE = 0.001 95 % CI [0.010, 0.417]). Further, the relationship between acting with awareness and CF associated with solid waste disposal at landfill sites was significantly mediated by the PLH (indirect effect – (−0.003), SE = 0.003 95 % CI [-0.012, −0.0001]). The current study will serve as a foundation for future longitudinal studies on the same subject by providing evidence for the relationships between meditation experience and PLH, perceived QoL and CF

Mindfulness Improves the Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents

January 23, 2025 psyjdc Leave a comment

child with ADHD symptoms By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

In today’s Research News article “Assessing the impact of mindfulness programs on attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a systematic review” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11730125/) Sultan and colleagues review and summarize the research studies on the effectiveness of mindfulness training in treating the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. They report that mindfulness training significantly improves attention and reduces hyperactivity and impulsiveness in children and adolescents.

Improve ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents with mindfulness.

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog http://contemplative-studies.org

Study Summary

Sultan MA, Nawaz FA, Alattar B, Khalaf E, Shadan S, El-Abiary N, Tegginmani S, Qasba RK, Jogia J. Assessing the impact of mindfulness programs on attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a systematic review. BMC Pediatr. 2025 Jan 14;25(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s12887-024-05310-z. PMID: 39810118; PMCID: PMC11730125. Abstract

Background

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder which poses challenges for the individuals with the disorder and their families. While stimulant medications are effective, a comprehensive approach, including psychosocial and behavioral interventions, is recommended. There is a growing body of research exploring the potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions for children with ADHD. Our study aims to assess the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions in reducing ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents through a systematic review of relevant studies.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, our systematic review searched PubMed, Cochrane library, Psycinfo, and Scopus from January 2000 to August 2022. We included studies focusing on mindfulness for pediatric ADHD, comprising various study designs with a minimum 8-week duration. Descriptive statistics summarized results, while risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane RoB and ROBANS tools. The quality of RCTs was further evaluated using the Correlation of Quality Measures tool.

Results

In the initial search, 450 records were identified, and after removing duplicates, 339 underwent screening. Forty-one studies underwent full text assessment for eligibility, with 11 studies meeting inclusion criteria, including seven RCTs, two Quasi RCTs, and three cohort studies. These studies, conducted in five countries, involved participants aged 7 to 18 years. Six studies showed improvement in hyperactivity/inattentive symptoms, and five studies showed improvement in impulsivity.

Conclusions

This systematic review demonstrates the potential benefits of mindfulness programs on ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents. This study emphasizes the need for high-quality research to explore mindfulness-based interventions for ADHD management in younger populations.

Improve Alzheimer’s Patients Quality of Life with Yoga

January 21, 2025 psyjdc Leave a comment

FAU | Online Chair Yoga Viable for Isolated Older Adults with Dementia

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

In today’s Research News article “Impact of Yoga in Transformation of Quality of Life of Alzheimer’s disease cases” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11712740/pdf/ALZ-20-e095088.pdf ) Kaushik and colleagues found that a 12-week yoga practice significantly improved the quality of life and cognitive function while reducing depression in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s Disease patients.

Yoga practice improves the lives of Alzheimer’s Disease patients.

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog http://contemplative-studies.org

Study Summary

Kaushik M. Impact of Yoga in Transformation of Quality of Life of Alzheimer’s disease cases. Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Jan 9;20(Suppl 8):e095088. doi: 10.1002/alz.095088. PMCID: PMC11712740.

Abstract

Background

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) constitutes a formidable challenge, profoundly affecting the fabric of individuals’ lives and intricately entwined with disturbances in their quality of life. This study embarks on a mission to unravel the transformative potential of a carefully crafted 12‐week yoga intervention, specifically tailored to address the multifaceted dimensions of quality of life. Our aim is to unravel the impact of a yoga intervention on their overall quality of life with AD and mild cognitively impairment subjects.

Method

A case control yoga interventional study was conducted on 30 subjects (male‐18 and female‐12) were enrolled from the department of neurology and neurocognitive assessments were done in department of Anatomy, AIIMS, New Delhi, India. All the participants, aged >60 years were recruited. The 12‐week yoga intervention entailed daily hour‐long sessions over 6 days. The multifaceted evaluation encompassed the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) including the evaluation of 15 questions and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale including for overall quality of life assessment with measuring language, memory, attention, visuospatial, naming, delayed recall, abstraction, and orientation for quality‐of‐life of the AD subjects.

Result

The AD subjects cohort exhibited statistically significant enhancements (P < 0.001) in quality‐of‐life scores (GDS & MoCA) pre and post Yoga intervention. GDS scores of 15 questions experienced a remarkable transition from pre‐yoga (8.36 ± 2.7) to post‐yoga (5.13 ± 3.0). While total MoCA scores ascended from pre yoga (18.65 ± 4.13) to post yoga (25.06 ± 6.3). MoCA scores of individual points pre yoga includes language (1.10 ± 0.2), memory (no points), attention (3.54 ± 1.8), visuospatial (4.0 ± 1.30), naming (2.16 ± 0.4), delayed recall (3.55 ± 0.25), abstraction (0.50 ± 0.0), and orientation (3.80 ± 0.18). MoCA scores of individual points post yoga includes language (2.16 ± 0.6), memory (no points), attention (4.60 ± 1.3), visuospatial (4.90 ± 2.50), naming (2.85 ± 0.75), delayed recall (4.85 ± 0.50), abstraction (1.40 ± 0.20), and orientation (4.30 ± 0.45).

Conclusion

This discerning study illuminates the transformative potential of a 12‐week yoga program, showcasing significant enhancements in the quality of life of individuals grappling with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Meditation Reduces Worker Stress

January 20, 2025 psyjdc Leave a comment

Study finds meditation with Headspace app reduces stress in pregnancy By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

In today’s Research News article “Digital Meditation to Target Employee Stress” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/articlepdf/2829186/radin_2025_oi_241525_1736185782.29032.pdf) Radin and colleagues performed a controlled clinical trial and found that 10 minutes of daily meditation significantly reduced stress levels in employees of a university health system.

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

Radin RM, Vacarro J, Fromer E, Ahmadi SE, Guan JY, Fisher SM, Pressman SD, Hunter JF, Sweeny K, Tomiyama AJ, Hofschneider LT, Zawadzki MJ, Gavrilova L, Epel ES, Prather AA. Digital Meditation to Target Employee Stress: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Jan 2;8(1):e2454435. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.54435. PMID: 39808431; PMCID: PMC11733700.

Study Summary

This randomized clinical trial investigates whether a digital mindfulness meditation application reduces perceptions of global and job-related stress among adults employed at a large academic medical center.

Key Points

Question

Can digital mindfulness meditation improve general stress and work-related stress among employees at a large academic medical center?

Findings

In this randomized clinical trial of 1458 employees, those who received mindfulness meditation (vs waiting list control) had significant reductions in perceived stress at 8 weeks.

Meaning

The findings suggest that participating in a brief digital mindfulness-based program is an effective method for reducing general and work-related stress in employees.

Abstract

Importance

Mindfulness meditation may improve well-being among employees; however, effects of digital meditation programs are poorly understood.

Objective

To evaluate the effects of digital meditation vs a waiting list condition on general and work-specific stress and whether greater engagement in the intervention moderates these effects.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This randomized clinical trial included a volunteer sample of adults (aged ≥18 years) employed at a large academic medical center who reported mild to moderate stress, had regular access to a web-connected device, and were fluent in English. Exclusion criteria included being a regular meditator. Participants were recruited from May 16, 2018, through September 28, 2019, and completed baseline, 8-week, and 4-month measures assessing stress, job strain, burnout, work engagement, mindfulness, depression, and anxiety. Data were analyzed from March 2023 to October 2024.

Intervention

Participants were randomized 1:1 to a digital meditation program or the waiting list control condition. Participants in the intervention group were instructed to complete 10 minutes of meditation per day for 8 weeks. The control group was instructed to continue their normal activities and not add any meditation during the study period.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome measure was change in Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) score at 8 weeks. Secondary outcome measures included changes in job strain, measured as work effort-reward imbalance.

Results

A total of 1458 participants (mean [SD] age, 35.54 [10.30] years; 1178 [80.80%] female) were included. Those randomized to meditation (n = 728) vs waiting list (n = 730) showed improvements in PSS (Cohen d, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73-0.96) and in all secondary outcome measures (eg, job strain: Cohen d, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.23-0.46) at 8 weeks. These improvements were maintained at 4 months after randomization (PSS: Cohen d, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.59-0.84; job strain: Cohen d, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.25-0.50). Those using the app from 5 to 9.9 min/d vs less than 5 min/d showed greater reduction in stress (mean PSS score difference, −6.58; 95% CI, −7.44 to −5.73).

Conclusions and Relevance

The findings suggest that a brief, digital mindfulness-based program is an easily accessible and scalable method for reducing perceptions of stress. Future work should seek to clarify mechanisms by which such interventions contribute to improvements in work-specific well-being

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog http://contemplative-studies.org

Meditation is an Effective Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

January 16, 2025 psyjdc Leave a comment

Meditation is an Effective Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

In today’s Research News article “Effectiveness of Meditation Techniques in Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” (See summary below) Orme-Johnson summarized the published controlled research on the effectiveness of various meditation techniques on Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They found that the published controlled research demonstrated significant reductions in PTSD symptoms regardless of the meditation technique in veterans, refugees, earthquake victims, prisoners, and civilians.

Hence, mindfulness meditation is an effective treatment for Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog http://contemplative-studies.org

Study Summary

Orme-Johnson DW, Barnes VA, Rees B, Tobin J, Walton KG. Effectiveness of Meditation Techniques in Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas). 2024 Dec 12;60(12):2050. doi: 10.3390/medicina60122050. PMID: 39768929; PMCID: PMC11678240.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11678240/pdf/medicina-60-02050.pdf

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition worldwide. The limited effectiveness of current psychological and pharmacological treatments has motivated studies on meditation techniques. This study is a comprehensive, multiple-treatments meta-analysis comparing the effectiveness of different categories of meditation in treating PTSD. Methods and Materials: We followed Prisma guidelines in our published protocol to search major databases and to conduct a meta-analysis of the studies. Results: We located 61 studies with 3440 subjects and divided them logically into four treatment groups: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR, 13 studies); Mindfulness-Based Other techniques (MBO, 16 studies), Transcendental Meditation (TM, 18 studies), and Other Meditations that were neither mindfulness nor TM (OM, 14 studies). Trauma populations included war veterans, war refugees, earthquake and tsunami victims, female survivors of interpersonal violence, clinical nurses, male and female prison inmates, and traumatized students. Of those offered, 86% were willing to try meditation. The baseline characteristics of subjects were similar across meditation categories: mean age = 52.2 years, range 29–75; sample size = 55.4, range 5–249; % males = 65.1%, range 0–100; and maximum study duration = 13.2 weeks, range 1–48. There were no significant differences between treatment categories on strength of research design nor evidence of publication bias. The pooled mean effect sizes in Hedges’s g for the four categories were MBSR = −0.52, MBO = −0.66, OM = −0.63, and TM = −1.13. There were no appreciable differences in the study characteristics of research conducted on different meditations in terms of the types of study populations included, outcome measures, control conditions, gender, or length of time between the intervention and assessment of PTSD. TM’s effect was significantly larger than for each of the other categories, which did not differ from each other. No study reported serious side effects. Conclusions: All categories of meditation studied were helpful in mitigating symptoms of PTSD. TM produced clinically significant reductions in PTSD in all trauma groups. We recommend a multisite Phase 3 clinical trial to test TM’s efficacy compared with standard treatment.

January 3, 2025 psyjdc Leave a comment

May be an image of 1 person and sleepwear Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Pain.

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

In today’s Research News article “Mindfulness Meditation and Placebo Modulate Distinct Multivariate Neural Signatures to Reduce Pain” (See summary below) Riegner and colleagues demonstrate that mindfulness meditation reduces both subjective pain and the brain responses to pain to a greater extent than a placebo.

Hence, mindfulness meditation is an effective treatment for pain.

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog http://contemplative-studies.org

Study Summary

Riegner G, Dean J, Wager TD, Zeidan F. Mindfulness Meditation and Placebo Modulate Distinct Multivariate Neural Signatures to Reduce Pain. Biol Psychiatry. 2025 Jan 1;97(1):81-88. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.08.023. Epub 2024 Aug 30. PMID: 39216636; PMCID: PMC11608143.

Abstract

Background: Rather than a passive reflection of nociception, pain is shaped by the interplay between one’s experiences, current cognitive-affective states, and expectations. The placebo response, a paradoxical yet reliable phenomenon, is postulated to reduce pain by engaging mechanisms shared with active therapies. It has been assumed that mindfulness meditation, practiced by sustaining nonjudgmental awareness of arising sensory events, merely reflects mechanisms evoked by placebo. Recently, brain-based multivariate pattern analysis has been validated to successfully disentangle nociceptive-specific, negative affective, and placebo-based dimensions of the subjective pain experience.

Methods: To determine whether mindfulness meditation engages distinct brain mechanisms from placebo and sham mindfulness to reduce pain, multivariate pattern analysis pain signatures were applied across 2 randomized clinical trials that employed overlapping psychophysical pain testing procedures (49 °C noxious heat; visual analog pain scales) and distinct functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques (blood oxygen level-dependent; perfusion based). After baseline pain testing, 115 healthy participants were randomized into a 4-session mindfulness meditation (n = 37), placebo-cream conditioning (n = 19), sham mindfulness meditation (n = 20), or book-listening control (n = 39) intervention. After each intervention, noxious heat was administered during functional magnetic resonance imaging and each manipulation.

Results: A double dissociation in the multivariate pattern analysis signatures supporting pain regulation was revealed by mindfulness meditation compared with placebo cream. Mindfulness meditation produced significantly greater reductions in pain intensity and pain unpleasantness ratings and nociceptive-specific and negative affective pain signatures than placebo cream, sham mindfulness meditation, and control interventions. The placebo-cream group significantly lowered the placebo-based signature.

Conclusions: Mindfulness meditation and placebo engaged distinct and granular neural pain signatures to reduce pain.