Cerebral Blood Flow and Brain Functional Connectivity Changes in Older Adults Participating in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program.
Aleeze Sattar Moss, Diane K. Reibel, Nancy Wintering, Faezeh Vedaei, Hannah Porter, Mohsen Khosravi, Justin Heholt, Mahdi Alizadeh, Feroze B. Mohamed, Andrew B. Newberg
Behavioral Sciences February 14, 2022 DOI: 10.3390/bs12020048 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective, single-center, single-arm study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 11 |
| Population | Elderly adults (mean age 79) |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Brain Cerebral blood flow Elderly Functional connectivity |
| Key points | Participation in an MBSR program was associated with altered cerebral blood flow and functional connectivity in brain regions linked to emotion and cognition, along with reduced depression symptoms. |
Abstract
There is a growing interest in the potential beneficial effects of mindfulness meditation training in protecting against age-related physical, emotional, and cognitive decline. The current prospective, single-center, single-arm study investigated if functional magnetic resonance imaging-based changes in cerebral blood flow and brain functional connectivity could be observed in 11 elderly adults (mean age 79) after participation in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. The results showed significantly (p < 0.05) altered cerebral blood flow and functional connectivity in the cingulate gyrus, limbic structures, and subregions of the temporal and frontal lobes, similar to findings of other meditation-related studies in younger populations. Furthermore, these changes were also associated with significant improvements in depression symptoms. This study suggests that the MBSR program can potentially modify cerebral blood flow and connectivity in this population.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation and hypnosis on magnetic resonance imaging: similarities and differences. A scoping review. Journal of neuroradiology = Journal de neuroradiologie March 1, 2024
- Impact of meditation on brain age derived from multimodal neuroimaging in experts and older adults from a randomized trial Scientific Reports October 28, 2025
- The Association of Levels of Mindfulness on the Cognitive Performance of Community-Dwelling, Low-Educated Older Adults From a Middle-Income Country. Journal of Applied Gerontology September 1, 2024
- Distinct Neurochemical Signature of Mindfulness and Progressive Muscle Relaxation in limbic regions: a randomized controlled MR spectroscopy study Research Square November 13, 2025
- Three potential neurovascular pathways driving the benefits of mindfulness meditation for older adults. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 2023
and 1 more in the library
Cites 18
- State and Training Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Brain Networks Reflect Neuronal Mechanisms of Its Antidepressant Effect Neural Plasticity 2016
- Mindfulness meditation training alters stress-related amygdala resting state functional connectivity: a randomized controlled trial Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience June 5, 2015
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Older Adults: Effects on Executive Function, Frontal Alpha Asymmetry and Immune Function Neuropsychobiology 2013
- Mindfulness Meditation Training and Executive Control Network Resting State Functional Connectivity: A Randomized Controlled Trial Psychosomatic Medicine March 22, 2017
- Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation-related anxiety relief Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience April 24, 2013
and 13 more in the library