Can Meditation Slow Rate of Cellular Aging? Cognitive Stress, Mindfulness, and Telomeres
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences August 1, 2009 Elissa S. Epel, Jennifer Daubenmier, Judith T. Moskowitz et al. 324 citations
Telomere length, a marker of cellular aging, is linked to chronic stress and depression. Psychological stress cognitions, such as threat appraisals and rumination, can prolong stress reactivity and may shorten telomeres. In contrast, mindfulness meditation shifts appraisals from threat to challenge, reduces rumination and stress arousal, and may increase positive arousal states. A review of data connects telomere length to cognitive stress and arousal, and new data links cognitive appraisal to telomere length. The authors propose that mindfulness meditation may benefit telomere maintenance by reducing cognitive stress and arousal and enhancing positive states, with ongoing trials testing this model.