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Effects of Long-Term Mindfulness Meditation on Brain's White Matter Microstructure and its Aging

Davide Laneri1, Verena Schuster1, Bruno Dietsche1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg Marburg, Germany.

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
|February 3, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Mindfulness meditation (MM) practice may alter brain white matter (WM) connectivity. This study suggests MM could potentially mitigate age-related WM decline in key brain regions.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neuroimaging
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Mindfulness meditation (MM) research is expanding, yet its impact on brain white matter (WM) remains under-explored.
  • WM integrity is crucial for cognitive functions, including those modulated by mindfulness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of MM on WM microstructure in specific brain regions.
  • To examine how MM influences WM in relation to aging.

Main Methods:

  • Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to analyze WM microstructure.
  • Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) assessed fractional anisotropy (FA) in WM connected to the thalamus, insula, amygdala, hippocampus, and anterior cingulate cortex.
  • A generalized linear model analyzed group differences (meditators vs. non-meditators) and age interactions.

Main Results:

  • Significant group differences in WM microstructure were found across all five regions of interest.
  • A significant group-by-age interaction indicated that MM may modulate age-related changes in WM.
  • Preliminary evidence suggests MM practice is associated with altered WM connectivity.

Conclusions:

  • Mindfulness meditation practice may induce changes in white matter connectivity.
  • MM shows potential in mitigating age-related white matter degeneration in brain regions vital for mindfulness processes.
Keywords:
ACCDTIagingamygdalahippocampusinsulameditationthalamus

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