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Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators
Abstract
Background Telomerase activity is a predictor of long-term cellular viability, which decreases with chronic psychological distress (Epel et al., 2004). Buddhist traditions claim that meditation decreases psychological distress and promotes well-being (e.g., Dalai Lama and Cutler, 2009). Therefore, we investigated the effects of a 3-month meditation retreat on telomerase activity and two major contributors to the experience of stress: Perceived Control (associated with decreased stress) and Neuroticism (associated with increased subjective distress). We used mediation models to test whether changes in Perceived Control and Neuroticism explained meditation retreat effects on telomerase activity. In addition, we investigated whether two qualities developed by meditative practice, increased Mindfulness and Purpose in Life, accounted for retreat-related changes in the two stress-related variables and in telomerase activity.Methods Retreat participants (n=30) meditated for ∼6 h daily for 3 months and were compared with a wait-list control group (n=30) matched for age, sex, body mass index, and prior meditation experience. Retreat participants received instruction in concentrative meditation techniques and complementary practices used to cultivate benevolent states of mind (Wallace, 2006). Psychological measures were assessed pre- and post-retreat. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples were collected post-retreat for telomerase activity. Because there were clear, a priori hypotheses, 1-tailed significance criteria were used throughout.Results Telomerase activity was significantly greater in retreat participants than in controls at the end of the retreat (p<0.05). Increases in Perceived Control, decreases in Neuroticism, and increases in both Mindfulness and Purpose in Life were greater in the retreat group (p<0.01). Mediation analyses indicated that the effect of the retreat on telomerase was mediated by increased Perceived Control and decreased Neuroticism. In turn, changes in Perceived Control and Neuroticism were both partially mediated by increased Mindfulness and Purpose in Life. Additionally, increases in Purpose in Life directly mediated the telomerase group difference, whereas increases in Mindfulness did not.Conclusions This is the first study to link meditation and positive psychological change with telomerase activity. Although we did not measure baseline telomerase activity, the data suggest that increases in perceived control and decreases in negative affectivity contributed to an increase in telomerase activity, with implications for telomere length and immune cell longevity. Further, Purpose in Life is influenced by meditative practice and directly affects both perceived control and negative emotionality, affecting telomerase activity directly as well as indirectly.
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“A few reports demonstrated that meditation practice was associated with increased telomerase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.33”
From Biological mechanism study of meditation and its application in mental disorders (2020) · cites this paper as [33]
In the citing paper
“Nonetheless, several studies reported “dose-response” relationships, with greater improvement in mental well-being or sense of purpose in life or greater adherence to the behavioral intervention, associating with larger increases in PBMC basal TA (Epel, 2012; Jacobs et al., 2011).”
From Psychiatric disorders and leukocyte telomere length: Underlying mechanisms linking mental illness with cellular aging (2015) · cites this paper as Jacobs et al., 2011
In the citing paper
“Jacobs et al., (2011) found that retreat participants, meditating for 6 hours daily for 3 months, had greater PBMC basal TA at the end of the three months than did a waitlist control group.”
From Psychiatric disorders and leukocyte telomere length: Underlying mechanisms linking mental illness with cellular aging (2015) · cites this paper as Jacobs et al., 2011
In the citing paper
“A caveat when interpreting that study, however, is that pre-test PBMC basal TA measures were not available for the meditation group, thus the analyses relied on cross-sectional post-meditation data only (Jacobs et al., 2011).”
From Psychiatric disorders and leukocyte telomere length: Underlying mechanisms linking mental illness with cellular aging (2015) · cites this paper as Jacobs et al., 2011
In the citing paper
“These studies have generally found intervention-associated increases in PBMC basal TA (Epel, 2012; Epel et al., 2009b; Epel, 2009; Jacobs et al., 2011; Lengacher et al., 2014; Ornish et al., 2008; Schutte and Malouff, 2014b; Starkweather et al., 2014).”
From Psychiatric disorders and leukocyte telomere length: Underlying mechanisms linking mental illness with cellular aging (2015) · cites this paper as Jacobs et al., 2011
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“If so, consistent meditation could potentially result in increases in telomere length and immune cell longevity throughout the lifespan.(70) Hence, the practice of meditation seems to affect cellular processes that are influenced by stress and linked to disease.”
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“In one of her preliminary investigations, telomerase activity was found to be significantly elevated in the 3-month meditation retreat participants than controls.[82] We can expect somewhat similar results if mediation is tried in MPS patient population.”
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“…longer (for example, training retreats) to obtain significant improvements in any neuropsychological function (Anderson, Lau, Segal, & Bishop, 2007; Jacobs et al., 2011; Lao et al., 2016; Semple, 2010) On the other hand, this discrepancy could be related to the tests used for assessing attentional…”
BackgroundAdherence Barriers for Adolescent and Young Adult Transplant Recipients: Relations to Personality
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“…meditation has been shown to increase the ability to concentrate, to facilitate development in the brain’s prefrontal areas (Davidson et al., 2003), to heighten immune system functioning, to increase people’s sense of wellbeing and interestingly also to lengthen telomeres (Jacobs et al., 2011).”
BackgroundMINDFULNESS AND THEORY U FOR THE PROFESSIONAL SENSE OF PURPOSE
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BackgroundTelomere length in a population of long-lived people of the northwestern region of Russia
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“Only 10 studies directly examined personality change in intervention study designs (Armstrong & Rimes, 2016; Crescentini et al., 2018; Fabbro et al., 2020; Jacobs et al., 2011; Krasner et al., 2009; Oken et al., 2017; Ortet et al., 2020; Robins et al., 2019; Smith et al., 2008, 2018).”
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“Of the five articles using telomerase activity, three (Daubenmier et al., 2012; Jacobs et al., 2011; Lavretsky et al., 2013) used both the TRAPeze kit to measure telomerase activity and the Tryphan Blue exclusion method to count the peripheral blood mononuclear cells.”
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“…Nguyen et al. 2019; Tolahunase et al. 2018; WaNg et al. 2017) reported TL; six RCTs (Daubenmier et al. 2012; Gautam et al. 2019; Innes et al. 2018; Jacobs et al. 2011; LeN-gacher et al. 2014; Tolahunase et al. 2018) reported TA; three RCTs (Fiedorowicz et al. 2021; Gainey et al. 2016; Voss et al.…”
Modifiable Factors Influencing Telomere Length and Aging
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Mindfulness Based Therapies for Autoimmune Diseases and Related Symptoms
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“Of the 21 studies reviewed, 10 used a standard Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention [30-39], 5 used adapted versions of MBSR or Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) [40-44], 2 used Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPS} [45, 46], 3 used customized Mindfulness Based Interventions (MBI) [47-49] and o…”
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“confirmed by meta-analysis, show that mindfulness training increases telomerase activity [21, 22].”
Primer for Mainstreaming Mind-Body Techniques for Extreme Climates-Insights and Future Directions
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“Similarly, another study described the effect of meditation on telomerase activity in retreat participants when compared to controls [49].”
ResultBehavioral Factors of Longevity
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Relationships and the Neurobiology of Resilience
Atkinson, B. J. (2015) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-017-9909-6_6 · Cited by 7
“…Speca, Faris, & Patel, 2007; Matousek, Dobkin, & Pruessner, 2010), improving immune function (L. E. Carlson et al., 2007; Davidson et al., 2003), promoting resolution of psoriatic lesions in patients with psoriasis (Kabat-Zinn et al., 1998) and increasing telomerase activity (Jacobs et al., 2011).”
BackgroundTam, B., Lo, D., Seah, D., Lee, J., Foo, Z., Poh, Z., Thong, F., Sim, S., & Chee, C. (2016) · Singapore Medical Journal · doi:10.11622/smedj.2016172 · Cited by 5
Psychosocial stress and telomere regulation
Shalev, I., & Hastings, W. J. (2019) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198793014.003.0017 · Cited by 6
“For example, endurance training and mindfulness meditation is associated with increased telomerase activity (27, 28, 115), suggesting a protective effect on the rate of telomere erosion.”
Kok, B. E., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2013) · Well Being · doi:10.1002/9781118539415.wbwell042 · Cited by 10
Malleability of Short Telomeres by Telomerase Activators: A Mini-review
Paolisso, V. B. G. (2013) · Journal of Aging Science · doi:10.4172/2329-8847.1000108 · Cited by 5
“Recently it has been shown that telomerase activity is also responsive to lifestyle and mindset, representing a natural way to stimulate telomerase activity [23-26].”
BackgroundIndividual Differences in Meditation Outcomes
Burić, I., Brazil, I. A., & van Mulukom, V. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198808640.013.26 · Cited by 5
Impact of "Yoga Based Lifestyle Interventions" and its Implications on Health and Disease
Rathore, M., Verma, M., Abraham, J., Dada, R., & Kumar, M. (2023) · International Research Journal of Ayurveda & Yoga · doi:10.47223/irjay.2023.6112 · Cited by 5
Associations of meditation with telomere dynamics: a case–control study in healthy adults
Dasanayaka, N. N., Sirisena, N. D., & Samaranayake, N. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1222863 · Cited by 5
“, 2021), higher telomerase activity (Jacobs et al., 2010; Dasanayaka et al., 2022) and up regulated expression of hTR and hTERT genes that encode telomerase enzyme (Duraimani et al.”
BackgroundResultFenech, M. F. (2013) · Journal of the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine · Cited by 5
Mindfulness en estudiantes de medicina
Oró, P., Esquerda, M., Salas, J. V., Soler-González, J., & Pifarré, J. (2015) · Educación Médica · doi:10.4321/s2014-98322015000600003 · Cited by 9
“Treadway y Lazar [26] recogen una serie de resultados relacionados con la práctica de la meditación mindfulness: más tiempo viviendo el momento presente con mayor capacidad para tomar distancia de las emociones negativas, mayor afecto positivo como un patrón emocionalmente estable de actividad cerebral, menos reactivi…”
BackgroundOh, S. (2022) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-022-03652-4 · Cited by 5
“Previous research has accumulated evidence showing that meditation training is beneficial in reducing chronic stress and anxiety along with neuroticism (Conklin et al., 2019; Jacobs et al., 2011).”
BackgroundHu, H., Mo, P. K. H., She, R., & Lau, J. T. F. (2022) · The Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1080/00223980.2022.2101419 · Cited by 5
“First, we expect a positive association between mindfulness and presence of meaning in life (Allan et al., 2015; Chu & Mak, 2020; Jacobs et al., 2011), as the mindfulness theory proposes that mindfulness contributes to positive health outcomes through reorganization of one’s perceptions, i.e.…”
BackgroundMindfulness, cognitieve functies en ‘succesvol ouder worden’
van Boxtel, M. P. J., & Speckens, A. E. M. (2013) · Tijdschrift voor Gerontologie en Geriatrie · doi:10.1007/s12439-013-0055-z · Cited by 5
“In een andere gecontroleerde studie onder 60 personen, waarvan de helft deelnam aan een meditatieretraite gedurende drie maanden, bleek dat de significant toegenomen telomeraseactiviteit bij de deelnemers gemedieerd werd door een afname in de ervaring van negatieve emoties.(17) In een recente gecontroleerde MBSR-studi…”
BackgroundCognitive and Emotional Associations of Mindfulness in Older Adults
Polsinelli, A. J. (2017) · UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) · Cited by 5
Air pollution and Alzheimer's disease prevention: The science and a prevention plan
Khalsa, D., Lavretsky, H., Reddy, M., Fenn, A., & Walling, C. G. (2025) · Journal of Alzheimer's Disease · doi:10.1177/13872877251386482 · Cited by 4
“114,118,127 Kirtan Kriya provides similar bene fi ts to a comprehensive lifestyle medicine program with just 12 min of daily practice.”
Factors Impacting Student Well-Being in Higher Education
Goff, M. G. (2024) · Advances in higher education and professional development book series · doi:10.4018/979-8-3693-8860-0.ch003 · Cited by 4
Absent Relations of Religious Coping to Telomere Length in African American and White Women and Men
Ashe, J. J., Evans, M. K., Zonderman, A. B., & Waldstein, S. R. (2023) · Experimental Aging Research · doi:10.1080/0361073x.2023.2219187 · Cited by 4
“…and meditation (e.g., practicing yoga or Qigong) are linked to longer telomeres and increased telomerase activity (Ho et al., 2012; Hoge et al., 2013; Jacobs et al., 2011; Lavretsky et al., 2013), we still expected to observe, at minimum, main effects of religious coping to TL in the full sample.”
BackgroundRyall, C., & Denham, J. (2025) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/glaf068 · Cited by 5
“Meditation also appears to attenuate telomere shortening (62) and increase telomerase activity (63), through signaling pathways possibly complementary and separate to exercise (64).”
Promise of Mindfulness-Based Interventions as Therapies to Prevent Cognitive Decline
Sapozhnikov, D. M. (2015) · McGill Science Undergraduate Research Journal · doi:10.26443/msurj.v10i1.123 · Cited by 4
New Directions for Oral Submucous Fibrosis Research: Whole Evaluation for Holistic Rehabilitation!
Panta, P., Sarode, S. C., Sarode, G. S., & Patil, S. (2018) · The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice · doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10024-2354 · Cited by 4
Bautista, R. E. D., Smith, F. L., & Celso, B. G. (2022) · Epilepsy & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108745 · Cited by 4
Well-Being Across the Globe - New Perspectives, Concepts, Correlates and Geography
Mullings, J., Paul, T., Dunn, L. L., Arbor, S., Meeks-Gardner, J., & Arbor, T. (2023) · Sustainable development · doi:10.5772/intechopen.104197 · Cited by 6
La méditation de pleine conscience (mindfulness) en oncologie
Poinsot, R., & Illy, J. (2016) · Cancer(s) et psy(s) · doi:10.3917/crpsy.002.0074 · Cited by 4
Innovative Energy Standard of Curative Cupping/Hijama
Ahmed, A. (2015) · Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences · doi:10.6000/1927-5129.2015.11.63 · Cited by 4
E-Friend: A Logical-Based AI Agent System Chat-Bot for Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health
Galindo, M. J. O., Moreno, L. A. M., Rojas-Velázquez, D., & Nieves, J. C. (2021) · Communications in computer and information science · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-91779-1_7 · Cited by 4
The Biology of Aging: Implications for Diseases of Aging and Health Care in the Twenty‐First Century
Watt, D. F. (2014) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118730676.ch1 · Cited by 4
The effects of meditation on length of telomeres in healthy individuals: A systematic reviewPreprint
Dasanayaka, N. N., Sirisena, N. D., & Samaranayake, N. (2020) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-79491/v1 · Cited by 4
Bodhiprasiddhinand, P. (2024) · Religions · doi:10.3390/rel15040511 · Cited by 8
Platt, J., & Hammond, L. E. (2024) · Advances in Mental Health · doi:10.1080/18387357.2024.2374759 · Cited by 3
“In contrast, subjective wellbeing has been associated with longevity and health (Diener & Chan, 2011), and studies have shown potential for physiological improvement from stress-management interventions such as meditation (Carlson et al., 2004; Jacobs et al., 2011).”
Fernández‐Alonso, A. M., Varikasuvu, S. R., & Pérez-López, F. R. (2024) · Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders · doi:10.1007/s40200-024-01513-4 · Cited by 3
Wenuganen, S., Walton, K. G., Travis, F. T., Tobias Stalder, A., Wallace, R. K., Srivastava, M., & Fagan, J. B. (2025) · Biomolecules · doi:10.3390/biom15030317 · Cited by 3
Metadata
- Authors
- Jacobs, T. L., Epel, E. S., Lin, J., Blackburn, E. H., Wolkowitz, O. M., Bridwell, D. A., Zanesco, A. P., Aichele, S. R., Sahdra, B. K., MacLean, K. A., King, B. G., Shaver, P. R., Rosenberg, E. L., Ferrer, E., Wallace, B. A., & Saron, C. D.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Davis (US)
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- University of California, Irvine (US)
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (US)
- University of California Davis Medical Center (US)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-06
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 664-681
- ISSN
- 0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2098489144
- Cited by
- 432
- References
- 116
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 27.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Mind and Life Institute
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Keywords
- meditation retreats, telomerase activity, perceived control, neuroticism, mindfulness, meaning of life, stress, immune cells, telomere length, Buddhist meditation, meditation training, psychological distress, negative affectivity, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, cellular aging, positive psychology interventions, concentrative meditation
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Anxiety, Female, Humans, Immune System, Male, Middle Aged, Physical Education and Training, Stress, Psychological, Treatment Outcome, Telomerase, Meditation, Young Adult
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