The effects of the transcendental meditation and TM-Sidhi program on the aging process.
R K Wallace, Michael C. Dillbeck, E Jacobe, B Harrington
International Journal of Neuroscience February 1982 DOI: 10.3109/00207458209147602 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 84 |
| Population | Adults with a mean age of 53 years, including controls and practitioners of Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi |
| Intervention | Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program |
| Measures | auditory threshold, near point vision, systolic blood pressure |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Long-term TM and TM-Sidhi practitioners showed a mean biological age 12.0 years younger than the general population, compared with 2.2 years younger for controls, with a significant correlation between practice duration and biological age (r = -0.46). |
Abstract
To evaluate the effects of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) and TM-Sidhi program on the aging process, a standardized test of biological aging, utilizing auditory threshold, near point vision, and systolic blood pressure, was given to a cross-sectional group (N = 84) with a mean age of 53 years. There were 11 controls, 33 short-term TM and TM-Sidhi participants, and 40 long-term participants. The mean biological age of the controls was 2.2 years younger than for the general population; of the short-term TM subjects, 5.0 years younger; of the long-term TM subjects, 12.0 years younger. The difference between the groups was significant covarying for a diet factor. Also, there was a significant correlation between length of time practicing the TM program and biological age (r = -0.46). Together with numerous physiological and psychological studies conducted on the TM and TM-Sidhi program, this study suggests that the TM program may affect certain neural mechanisms which in turn influence age correlated physiological variables.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Experienced meditators and nonmeditating comparison groups | 2008 | Cross-sectional study | |
| Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Adult participants | 2007 | Observational cross-sectional | n = 27 |
| Assessing mindfulness in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM). School-aged children and adolescents | 2011 | Cross-sectional validation study | n = 1,413 |
| Mindfulness and self-compassion as predictors of psychological wellbeing in long-term meditators and matched nonmeditators Experienced meditators and demographically matched nonmeditators | 2012 | Cross-sectional study | n = 152 |
| Mechanisms of Action in the Inverse Relationship Between Mindfulness and Psychological Distress Undergraduates | 2008 | Cross-sectional, correlational |
Citations in the library
Cited by 18
- Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness, and longevity: An experimental study with the elderly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1989
- Lower Lipid Peroxide Levels in Practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation[registered sign] Program Psychosomatic Medicine 1998
- Effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation Program in Preventing and Treating Substance Misuse: A Review International Journal of the Addictions 1991
- Self-transcending meditation is good for mental health: why this should be the case. International Review of Psychiatry June 1, 2016
- The effects of transcendental meditation on stress reduction in adults: a systematic review Minerva Psychiatry October 1, 2026
and 13 more in the library
Cites 12
- Physiological Effects of Transcendental Meditation Science March 27, 1970
- Meditation as an intervention in stress reactivity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1976
- Short-Term Longitudinal Effects of the Transcendental Meditation Technique on EEG Power and Coherence International Journal of Neuroscience 1981
- Breath Suspension During the Transcendental Meditation Technique Psychosomatic Medicine May 1, 1982
- Influence of Transcendental Meditation upon Autokinetic Perception Perceptual and Motor Skills December 1, 1974
and 7 more in the library