Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction increases stimulated IL-6 production among lonely older adults: A randomized controlled trial
Emily K. Lindsay, J. D. Creswell, Harrison J. Stern, Carol M. Greco, T. Walko, Janine M. Dutcher, A. Wright, Kirk Warren Brown, Anna L. Marsland
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity May 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.05.001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 190 |
| Population | Lonely older adults aged 65–85 |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Health Enhancement Program |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 3-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Registration | NCT02888600 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction led to significantly larger increases in stimulated IL-6 production compared to a control program, both immediately post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. |
Abstract
Loneliness is a potent psychosocial stressor that predicts poor health and mortality among older adults, possibly in part by accelerating age-related declines in immunocompetence. Mindfulness interventions have shown promise for reducing loneliness and improving markers of physical health. In a sample of lonely older adults, this two-arm parallel trial tested whether mindfulness training enhances stimulated interleukin-6 (IL-6) production, a measure of innate immune responsivity. Lonely older adults (65–85 years; N=190) were randomized to an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or control Health Enhancement Program (HEP) intervention. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated production of IL-6 was measured in vitro by blinded outcome assessors at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. Mixed-effects linear models tested time (pre, post, follow-up) by condition (MBSR vs. HEP) effects. As predicted, a significant time × condition effect on stimulated IL-6 production was observed across pre, post, and follow-up timepoints. Significant MBSR vs. HEP differences emerged from pre- to post-intervention (p=.009, d=.38) and from pre-intervention to 3-month follow-up (p=.017, d=.35), with larger increases in IL-6 production following MBSR compared to HEP. No study-related adverse events were reported. Results show that mindfulness training may be effective for boosting innate immunocompetence among lonely older adults. Given that immunocompetence tends to decline with age, mindfulness training may help to counteract the effects of aging and psychosocial stress on infection risk and recovery from injury. Trial Registration: Clinical Trials identifier NCT02888600
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Physiological Markers of Stress in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Synthesis Mindfulness December 2, 2025
- Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on perioperative outcomes in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial chemoembolization. PLoS One June 29, 2026
- Developing and testing the effectiveness of mindfulness intervention for reducing loneliness in Hong Kong older adults: A hybrid sequential multiple assignment randomized trial, micro randomized trial experimental design study protocol Research Square June 11, 2026
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction and loneliness in older adults: two randomized controlled trials. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences November 5, 2025
- Development of a (digital) mindfulness-informed intervention for older adults in nursing homes: description and reflection of a person-based co-design approach. BMC Geriatrics September 25, 2025
and 2 more in the library
Cites 11
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- How Does Mindfulness Training Affect Health? A Mindfulness Stress Buffering Account Current Directions in Psychological Science December 1, 2014
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Buffers Glucocorticoid Resistance Among Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial Psychosomatic Medicine March 3, 2021
- Mindfulness Training and Physical Health: Mechanisms and Outcomes Psychosomatic Medicine April 1, 2019
and 6 more in the library