Sustained effects of mantra meditation compared to music listening on neurocognitive outcomes of breast cancer survivors: A brief report of a randomized control trial.
Ashley M Henneghan, Heather Becker, Carolyn S Phillips, Shelli R Kesler
Journal of Psychosomatic Research September 25, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110628 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 31 |
| Population | Breast cancer survivors aged 21 to 75 who had received chemotherapy and reported cognitive complaints |
| Interventions | Mantra meditation Classical music listening |
| Dose | 12 min a day |
| Duration | 8-week intervention; outcomes assessed 8 weeks after interventions ended (Time 3) compared with baseline (Time 1) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Breast neoplasms Quality of life Middle aged Female Young adult Cancer survivors Music listening Breast cancer survivor Supportive oncology Cancer-related cognitive impairment |
| Registration | NCT03696056 |
| Key findings | In breast cancer survivors with cancer-related cognitive impairment, both daily mantra meditation and daily classical music listening were followed by significant improvements from baseline in verbal fluency, attention, immediate memory recall, perceived cognitive impairment, and quality of life, with no significant difference between the two groups. The authors suggest either practice may be beneficial and that cognitive benefits appear sustained beyond the intervention period. |
Abstract
Objective: Cancer-related cognitive impairment is common following the end of adjuvant treatment and there are limited treatment options for it. We compared the sustained cognitive (primary) and psychological (secondary) effects of mantra meditation to classical music listening 8 weeks after interventions ended (Time 3) compared to baseline (Time 1).
Methods: A two-group parallel random assignment experimental design was used in a community setting. Thirty one breast cancer survivors (ages 21 to 75, received chemotherapy, and reported cognitive complaints) were randomly assigned to practice mantra meditation (n = 16) or listen to classical music (n = 15) 12 min a day for 8 weeks. No blinding was used. Repeated measures analysis of variance models were used to compare Time 1 and Time 3 data for the 26 survivors (13 per group) who completed the interventions and Time 3 data collection.
Results: Verbal fluency (p < .001, ηp2 = 0.58), attention (p = .002, ηp2 = 0.33), immediate memory recall (p < .001, ηp2 = 0.38), perceived cognitive impairment (p < .001, ηp2 = 0.39), and quality of life (p = .001, ηp2 = 0.35) improved significantly across time for both groups. The two conditions did not differ significantly in changes across time. There were no adverse effects.
Conclusion: Daily mantra meditation or classical music listening may be beneficial for cognitive outcomes and quality of life of breast cancer survivors with cancer-related cognitive impairment. The cognitive benefits appear to be sustained beyond the initial intervention period. Clinical Trials Registration number: NCT03696056, recruitment status completed. The study details can be accessed at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03696056 KEY MESSAGE: There are limited treatment options for managing cancer-related cognitive impairments. Daily mantra meditation or classical music listening for 12 min a day may improve cognitive outcomes and quality of life for cancer survivors, with no negative side effects.
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
Cites 8
- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Longitudinal effects of meditation on brain resting-state functional connectivity. Scientific Reports May 31, 2021
- Cortical reorganization processes in meditation naïve participants induced by 7 weeks focused attention meditation training. Behavioural Brain Research October 1, 2020
- Meditation and Music Improve Memory and Cognitive Function in Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Journal of Alzheimer's Disease January 18, 2017
- Examination of Broad Symptom Improvement Resulting From Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology August 20, 2016
and 3 more in the library