Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Buffers Glucocorticoid Resistance Among Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Emily K. Lindsay, J. David Creswell, Harrison J. Stern, Carol M. Greco, Janine M. Dutcher, Sarah R. Lipitz, Catherine Walsh, Aidan G.C. Wright, Kirk Warren Brown, Anna L. Marsland
Psychosomatic Medicine March 3, 2021 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000000928 (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 years |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Health Enhancement Program |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 3-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness-based stress reduction Randomized controlled trial Glucocorticoid Resistance ecology Clinical psychology Stress linguistics |
| Citations | 18 |
| Registration | NCT02888600 |
| Key findings | MBSR buffered increases in glucocorticoid resistance from preintervention to postintervention compared with a control program, but group differences were not maintained at 3-month follow-up. |
Abstract
Objective: Mindfulness interventions have been effective for improving a range of health outcomes; however, pathways underlying these effects remain unclear. Inflammatory processes may play a role, possibly through increased resistance of immune cells to the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids (i.e., glucocorticoid resistance, or GCR). Here, we conducted an initial examination of whether mindfulness training mitigates GCR among lonely older adults.
Methods: Lonely older adults (65-85 years; n = 190) were randomly assigned to an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or a matched Health Enhancement Program (HEP). Whole blood drawn before and after the intervention and at 3-month follow-up was incubated with endotoxin and varying concentrations of dexamethasone, and interleukin-6 production was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. GCR was assessed as the concentration of dexamethasone required to decrease the stimulated interleukin-6 response by 50% (half maximal inhibitory concentration), with higher concentrations indicating greater GCR. Mixed-effects linear models tested time (pre, post, follow-up) by condition (MBSR versus HEP) effects.
Results: There was no overall time by condition effect on GCR across all time points. However, a significant time by condition effect was observed from preintervention to postintervention (d = 0.29), such that MBSR buffered increases in GCR observed in the HEP group. Although MBSR showed small, nonsignificant reductions in GCR from preintervention to 3-month follow-up, group differences were not maintained at the 3-month follow-up (d = 0.10).
Conclusions: Results suggest that MBSR may protect against declines in the sensitivity of immune cells to the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids among at-risk lonely older adults and show value in studying this biological mechanism in future trials.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
- What Do We Know About the Validity and Reliability of Mindfulness Self-Report Measures in Persons with Dementia? A Critical Narrative Review. Clinical Gerontologist 2025
- 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
- On the road to resilience: Epigenetic effects of meditation. Vitamins and hormones 2023
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction increases stimulated IL-6 production among lonely older adults: A randomized controlled trial Brain, Behavior, and Immunity May 1, 2022
and 2 more in the library
Cites 8
- How Does Mindfulness Training Affect Health? A Mindfulness Stress Buffering Account Current Directions in Psychological Science December 1, 2014
- Mindfulness training and systemic low-grade inflammation in stressed community adults: Evidence from two randomized controlled trials PLoS One July 11, 2019
- Mindfulness Training and Physical Health: Mechanisms and Outcomes Psychosomatic Medicine April 1, 2019
- Mindfulness training reduces loneliness and increases social contact in a randomized controlled trial Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences February 11, 2019
- Alterations in Resting-State Functional Connectivity Link Mindfulness Meditation With Reduced Interleukin-6: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Biological Psychiatry July 1, 2016
and 3 more in the library