Meditation and Its Mental and Physical Health Benefits in 2023.
Aneeque Jamil, Sai Dheeraj Gutlapalli, Marya Ali, Mrinal J P Oble, Shamsun Nahar Sonia, Sherie George, Srushti R Shahi, Zahra Ali, Abdelrahman Abaza, Lubna Mohammed
Cureus June 1, 2023 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.40650 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Meditation and genetics Meditation and immunology |
| Citations | 46 |
| Post-publication review | 1 comment on PubPeer (opens in new tab) · last active May 2024 |
| Key findings | Meditation appears to benefit brain function, immune and inflammatory processes, physical health conditions, and mental health, though the effect size is uncertain. |
Abstract
This article discusses the power of meditation and how beneficial it is for the body. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown many positive brain changes and improved several brain functions. Meditation has several benefits improving the immune system and inflammatory processes by decreasing cytokine; appropriate telomere shortening also has helped healthy aging. Regarding physical health, meditation has been beneficial in various multi-factorial diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and fibromyalgia. It has also helped bring down blood cholesterol levels and increase high-density lipoproteins (HDL) levels. Improvement was also seen in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Mental health is another aspect influenced by meditation, as positive emotion brought about by meditation helps address various mental problems like social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Overall, it seems to have some impact in all health areas. However, the magnitude of its effect is not known. More diverse and detailed studies should yield more beneficial clinical outcomes.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 19
- Effect of Mind Sound Resonance Technique (MSRT) on Cognitive and Psychophysiological Functions in College Students: A Randomised Controlled Study. Annals of Neurosciences February 28, 2025
- Consciousness, mindfulness, and introspection: integrating first- and second-person phenomenological inquiry with experimental and EEG data to study the mind. Frontiers in Psychology September 8, 2025
- Zen Meditation and Aromatherapy as a Core to Mental Health: Studies in Vietnamese Monasteries Religions April 14, 2025
- Is the Rosary Still Relevant? Exploring its Impact on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Multinational Study. Journal of Religion and Health April 1, 2025
- Meditation for subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Public Health 2025
and 14 more in the library
Cites 16
- Self-administered Meditation Application Intervention for Cancer Patients With Psychosocial Distress: A Pilot Study Integrative Cancer Therapies 2023
- The Effect of Meditation, Mindfulness, and Yoga in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Journal of Personalized Medicine November 15, 2022
- The impact of mindfulness on suicidal behavior: a systematic review. Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy May 18, 2022
- Scientific Evidence of Health Benefits by Practicing Mantra Meditation: Narrative Review. International Journal of Yoga 2022
- The effects of meditation on length of telomeres in healthy individuals: a systematic review. Systematic Reviews May 21, 2021
and 11 more in the library