Effects of long-term mindfulness meditation on brain's white matter microstructure and its aging.
Davide eLaneri, Verena eSchuster, Bruno eDietsche, Andreas eJansen, Ulrich eOtt, Jens eSommer
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience January 15, 2016 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2015.00254 (opens in new tab) via DOAJ
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMindfulness meditation may alter white matter microstructure and help reduce age-related white matter degeneration in brain regions linked to mindfulness. Diffusion tensor imaging scans of 64 meditators and non-meditators showed group differences and a group-by-age interaction in white matter adjacent to the thalamus, insula, amygdala, hippocampus, and anterior cingulate cortex. The findings offer preliminary evidence that mindfulness practice could affect white matter connectivity and potentially counteract age-related decline in key brain areas.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 64 |
| Population | Meditators and non-meditators |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Aging Amygdala Hippocampus Thalamus |
| Key finding | Group differences and a group-by-age interaction in white matter fractional anisotropy were found in all five selected brain regions, suggesting mindfulness meditation may influence white matter connectivity and diminish age-related degeneration. |
Abstract
Although research on the effects of mindfulness meditation (MM) is increasing, still very little has been done to address its influence on the white matter (WM) of the brain. We hypothesized that the practice of MM might affect the WM microstructure adjacent to five brain regions of interest associated with mindfulness. Diffusion tensor imaging was employed on samples of meditators and non-meditators (n=64) in order to investigate the effects of MM on group difference and aging. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics was used to estimate the fractional anisotrophy of the WM connected to the thalamus, insula, amygdala, hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex. The subsequent generalized linear model analysis revealed group differences and a group-by-age interaction in all five selected regions. These data provide preliminary indications that the practice of MM might result in WM matter connectivity change and might provide evidence on its ability to help diminish age-related WM degeneration in key regions which participate in processes of mindfulness.