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Marta Cosín-Tomás

2 papers in the library · publishing 2018-2022

Papers

Changes in the expression of inflammatory and epigenetic-modulatory genes after an intensive meditation retreat.

Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology August 1, 2022 María Jesús Álvarez-López, Quinn A Conklin, Marta Cosín-Tomás et al.

A month-long silent meditation retreat altered the expression of genes involved in epigenetic modulation and inflammation. In experienced meditators attending an Insight meditation retreat (28 participants) compared to a community control group (34 experienced practitioners living their everyday lives), retreat participants showed differential changes in genes related to chromatin modulation and inflammation. The most substantive finding was downregulation of the TNF pathway in retreat participants, which was not observed in controls. These findings suggest that meditation retreat participation may influence inflammatory mechanisms involved in chronic disease development and may have therapeutic potential, particularly in experienced practitioners.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100152 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Meditation Mindfulness Cytokines Epigenetics +2

Insight meditation and telomere biology: The effects of intensive retreat and the moderating role of personality.

Brain, behavior, and immunity May 1, 2018 Quinn A Conklin, Brandon G King, Anthony P Zanesco et al.

Intensive meditation during a one-month residential Insight retreat was associated with an apparent increase in telomere length compared to a control group of experienced meditators not on retreat. Personality traits moderated this effect: retreat participants highest in neuroticism and lowest in agreeableness showed the greatest telomere length increases. Changes in telomere-related gene expression suggested improved telomere maintenance, including increases in Gar1 and HnRNPA1. No group-level changes in telomerase activity were observed, but retreat participants' telomerase activity at post-assessment was inversely related to retreat engagement and prior meditation experience. Neuroticism also predicted variation in telomerase activity across the retreat.

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.03.003 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Meditation Cell aging Neuroticism Personality +2