Three months-longitudinal changes in relative telomere length, blood chemistries, and self-report questionnaires in meditation practitioners compared to novice individuals during midlife
Medicine October 14, 2022 Minkyu Sung, Eugene Koh, Yunjeong Kang et al. 4 citations
Telomeres, protective caps on chromosomes, shorten with age, and this shortening accelerates during midlife. In a quasi-experimental study, experienced meditation practitioners completed a 3-month intensive meditation training while matched controls continued normal life. Relative telomere length (RTL) was maintained in the meditation group but significantly reduced in the control group. The meditation group also showed significantly lower blood glucose and total protein after the intervention compared to controls. Self-reported depression, stress, and emotional intelligence improved more in the meditation group, with trends toward better sleep quality and less anxiety. The results suggest meditation may slow molecular cellular aging alongside psychological benefits.