ArticleLiterature Review

Effect of meditation on neurophysiological changes in stress mediated depression

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  • National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati, India
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... Meditation has been found to have profound effects on numerous physiological systems, affecting different physiological pathways such as neurotransmission and immune and neuroendocrine systems that are affected by stress and are relevant to disease development and progression (Kasala et al., 2014). A literature review indicates beneficial outcomes for leader well-being through meditation/mindfulness interventions (Donaldson-Feilder, Lewis & Yarker, 2019). ...
... A literature review indicates beneficial outcomes for leader well-being through meditation/mindfulness interventions (Donaldson-Feilder, Lewis & Yarker, 2019). Decreased pain (Kasala et al., 2014), improved visual processing, attention and perception (Austin, 1999;Joseph, 2001;Goenka, 2000), increased attention span (Kabat-Zinn, 2005), self-control, focused problemsolving and adaptive behavioural responses under changing conditions (Allman et al., 2001) are achieved through meditation. It positively impacts neuroplasticity of meditators indicating links between meditation, psychological and neurological transformations that counter the adverse effects manifested through the default characteristics of managers' role in the work environment (Waldman, Balthazard & Peterson, 2011). ...
... Leaders continuously face challenges, being tested on their decisions and performance (Huy, 2001;Mintzberg, 2013;Waldman, Balthazard & Peterson, 2011). Meditation manifests pain tolerance (Kasala et al., 2014), self-control (Allman et al., 2001;Duckworth & Steinberg, 2015) and self-regulation (Bush, Luu & Posner, 2000;Posner et al., 2007); focused problem-solving and adaptive behavioural responses under changing conditions among other positive psychological attributes (Allman et al., 2001, Analayo, 2003Austin, 1999;Goenka, 2000) give them the ability to rise above testing situations productively and beneficially, not only for themselves but also for others. Campos et al. (2016) found that meditation is related to positive emotions, positive reappraisal, life satisfaction, psychological health and wellbeing, and self-compassion leading to mindfulness, happiness, and wellbeing. ...
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The aim of the study is to examine the role of meditation in facilitating grit and flow to develop positive leaders. A conceptual framework was tested through three interrelated research questions, using longitudinal semi-structured interviews on a purposeful and convenient sample and applying qualitative methodology. Questions common to five meditation techniques and derived from integrating five leadership styles along with questions from GritS , Experience Sampling form and Flow-Q were used as interview guide. Analysis of interviews with leaders working in large organisations from diverse industries and management levels and practicing meditation daily for twenty minutes over a minimum of eight weeks, yielded four key findings : (1) meditation develops positive leaders; (2) manifestation of grit and flow in combination, where flow is the building brick of grit; (3) a relationship between grit and meditation through flow; (4) combined manifestation of grit-flow in relation with meditation develops positive leaders leading to the emergent theory 'When flow is experienced repeatedly and is facilitated by meditation, grit is manifested, leading to the development of positive leaders.'-an original contribution of this research. Positive leadership leads to organisation effectiveness. The root enablers of organisation effectiveness are self-awareness and self-regulation manifested through meditation and facilitated by positive leadership. The findings contribute fresh knowledge to theoretical studies on grit, leadership and to the practical application of meditation.
... Mind-body practices and meditation have been increasingly studied in recent years, due to their purported benefits for cognition, and physical and psychological health (Keng et al., 2011;Lutz et al., 2008). Growing evidence suggests that these practices may be utilized as interventions to impact age-related biological processes, such as cognitive decline, inflammation, homeostatic dysregulation, and stress (Black et al., 2013;Hecht et al., 2018;Irwin et al., 2015;Kasala et al., 2014;Klimecki et al., 2019;Matousek et al., 2011;McEwen, 2016;Twal et al., 2016). Mindfulness Meditation (MM), in fact, can change the way stressors and the environment are perceived, although the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. ...
... Conversely, mind-body practices can elicit positive effects, counteracting stress and inflammation and promoting well-being (Black et al., 2019;Black and Slavich, 2016). Accordingly, such practices could potentially serve as a basis for interventions to impact age-related biological processes, such as inflammation, and homeostatic dysregulation as well as cognitive decline (Black et al., 2013;Hecht et al., 2018;Irwin et al., 2015;Kasala et al., 2014;Klimecki et al., 2019;Matousek et al., 2011;McEwen, 2016;Twal et al., 2016). Yet, the exact mediating mechanisms are still far from being elucidated. ...
... We, therefore, suggest that QMT contributes to the alleviation of the inflammatory process. However, although some studies previously reported increased anti-inflammatory cytokine levels following mindful practices (Kasala et al., 2014), our results did not show any detectable IL-10 protein. ...
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Mind-body practices and meditation have been increasingly studied in recent years due to their beneficial effects on cognition, and physical and psychological health. Growing evidence suggests that these practices could be utilized as interventions to impact age-related biological processes, such as cognitive decline, inflammation, and homeostatic dysregulation. Indeed, it has been reported that mindful meditation may induce neuroplasticity in brain regions involved in control of attention, emotional regulation, and self-awareness. In the current research we studied the effects of a recently developed movement meditation, named the Quadrato Motor Training (QMT), on the proinflammatory cytokine Interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), utilizing a pre-post design. In addition to its role in the immune system, IL-1β is also an important mediator of neuroimmune responses related to sickness behavior, and plays a role in complex cognitive processes, such as synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, and neuromodulation. Thirty healthy participants were divided in two groups, one performing QMT for 2 months, and one passive control group. Salivary IL-1β expression was examined by ELISA to measure protein levels and by qRT-PCR to quantify mRNA. In addition, the methylation profile of the IL-1β promoter was examined. All participants further conducted the Alternate Uses Task (AUT) and Hidden Figure Test (HFT), to measure their creativity and spatial cognition. The results showed that, following QMT practice, IL-1β protein level decreased and creativity increased, compared to the control group. These data demonstrate that QMT may help reduce inflammatory states and promote cognitive improvement, highlighting the importance of non-pharmacological approaches to health and well-being.
... Our results corroborate with several studies that report a decrease in the levels of catalase activity in subjects who practice mindfulness meditation [18] [41]. This confirms that high oxidative stress or low enzymatic antioxidant status are generally biological mechanisms associated with poor health outcomes and progression of a wide range of diseases [42]. Furthermore, meditation practice decreases markers of oxidative stress by increasing the transcriptional expression of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase, CueZneSOD (CueZn-superoxide dismutase), Mn-SOD, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) [42] [43]. ...
... This confirms that high oxidative stress or low enzymatic antioxidant status are generally biological mechanisms associated with poor health outcomes and progression of a wide range of diseases [42]. Furthermore, meditation practice decreases markers of oxidative stress by increasing the transcriptional expression of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase, CueZneSOD (CueZn-superoxide dismutase), Mn-SOD, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) [42] [43]. ...
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It is well established in the literature that mindfulness meditation helps in reducing metabolic and psychological stress, thus improving well-being. The present study aims at investigating this beneficial effect of mindfulness meditation in the context of the Islamic Pilgrimage (El-Hajj), through an oxidative and metabolic approach. Our experimental group includes 30 volunteer subjects who regularly practiced mindfulness meditation through Islamic prayer. The control group includes 30 subjects who do not practice prayer. Those who practice prayer (hajjis) are sampled one week prior to their departure to the pilgrimage and one week after their return from it. Stress parameters include Malondialdehyde (MDA), Catalase (CAT), and Cortisol. Metabolic parameters include control of fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Our results show a significant reduction in plasma cortisol levels (p=0.014) in the hajjis after return from the pilgrimage. This decrease is associated with a decrease in lipid peroxidation levels (p = 0.082) and a significant increase in antioxidant defense by catalase (p = 0.0466). We suggest that mindfulness meditation through Islamic pilgrimage and prayer accounts for a downward modulation of plasma cortisol, MDA and the activation of antioxidant defense by catalase in hajjis after pilgrimage.
... Furthermore, Mohan (2011) (24) revealed that meditation diminished physiological stress responses and enhanced memory scores. Kasala (2014) (25) emphasized the potential of meditation to reverse physiological abnormalities related to stress-induced depression. Leung (2014) (26) also suggested that long-term meditation practice could lead to neuroplastic changes in the brain, fostering affective regulation and serving as a cost-effective intervention in mood disorders. ...
... Furthermore, Mohan (2011) (24) revealed that meditation diminished physiological stress responses and enhanced memory scores. Kasala (2014) (25) emphasized the potential of meditation to reverse physiological abnormalities related to stress-induced depression. Leung (2014) (26) also suggested that long-term meditation practice could lead to neuroplastic changes in the brain, fostering affective regulation and serving as a cost-effective intervention in mood disorders. ...
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Introduction: The latest researches concerning the effect of the meditation on the well-being show the increased number of meditation proponents due to its benefits to the mental resilience, stress management and also general health. Meditation is increasingly recognized globally for promoting overall well-being. Purpose: This study investigates impact of meditation on mental and physical well-being. It aims at understanding the mechanisms behind the improvements of health, giving special emphasis on its use as a treatment tool and a prevention measure. State of Knowledge: Meditation is validated in terms of the amount of data proving its positive effects on psychological and physical health. Ranging from stress reduction to immune system modulation, cognitive enhancements, and cardiovascular benefits, meditation turns out to be a wide applicability tool. Mediation perception factors such as cultural and social aspects are contrasted, stressing the important of research on its original Buddhist context. Meditation, due to cultural differences, still is a controversial in many areas, especially in social work. Summary: Meditation is a diverse tool for the promotion of the whole person well-being including stress reduction, immunity modulation, enhancement in cognition and cardiovascular health. It is crucial for building resilience, an important part of preventive and clinical psychology, and the medically oriented stress management. Noticing the role of culture, meditation is a significant aid to the improvement of personal, educator, and healthcare provider well-being. Meditation is a versatile tool that can be integrated into various practices, enhancing the overall well-being and life-coping skills of individuals and professionals alike.
... Cognitive scientists suggest that the brain is capable of significant internal change in reaction to environmental changes (Creswell et al., 2014;Fox et al., 2014;Kasala et al., 2014), which occur as a result of practicing meditation. Since meditation can be accepted as a mind training where mindfulness is practiced consciously as a prolonged regular practice by focusing on attention and focus strengthening concentration in the process (Baccarani et al., 2013) it manifests positivity through various physiological and processes (Creswell et al., 2014;Fox et al., 2014;Kasala et al., 2014). ...
... Cognitive scientists suggest that the brain is capable of significant internal change in reaction to environmental changes (Creswell et al., 2014;Fox et al., 2014;Kasala et al., 2014), which occur as a result of practicing meditation. Since meditation can be accepted as a mind training where mindfulness is practiced consciously as a prolonged regular practice by focusing on attention and focus strengthening concentration in the process (Baccarani et al., 2013) it manifests positivity through various physiological and processes (Creswell et al., 2014;Fox et al., 2014;Kasala et al., 2014). Positivity is the generic outcome of practicing meditation is a sense of well-being experienced by the practitioner (Kabat-Zinn, 2013). ...
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This chapter presents an empirical study using a qualitative research process through semi-structured interviews to interview 20 managers working full-time in large organizations, assessing the manifestation of flow and grit and measuring the role of resilience in the manifestation. They practiced meditation daily, which was used as a facilitator of positivity. It indicated that mind training, such as meditation, makes it easier to augment resilience while developing grit and flow, imbibing positivity in the process. From the pattern of interview findings, the grit-flow questionnaire was developed. The questionnaire is significant as a practical application in assessing whether leaders' or potential leaders' people management capability has positive leadership or can develop positivity and the effectiveness of wellbeing and health enhancement programs to develop or measure positivity. This questionnaire adds to research and analysis of grit, flow, resilience, and positive psychology on the whole and their relationships.
... ACTH then travels to the adrenal cortex via the bloodstream and triggers the release of cortisol. High cortisol level acts to increase stress [29]. Moreover, the expression of NF-ƙB increases with respect to the dysregulation of the HPA axis and is involved in the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. ...
... High levels of oxidative stress decrease plasma telomerase levels, thereby increasing aging [33]. Empirical evidence suggests that meditation can directly reduce the stress level and up-regulates the expression of hTERT and hTR genes [28,29], which in turn increase the plasma telomerase level and maintain the telomere length. Hence, meditation indirectly controls the aging of a person. ...
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Many people suffer from stress and anxiety due to complex lifestyles. Stress is one of the main causes of various diseases. In addition, it causes a lower level of consciousness, quality of life, and a higher rate of cellular aging. Meditation becomes a trending topic to overcome these problems. Key terms including “Meditation,” “Mindfulness,” “Quality of life,” “Telomere,” and “Telomerase” were used to search literature in PubMed, Medline, and Google scholar databases. Meditation is cheap, viable, and simple mental training. Several studies have been conducted on the effects of meditation on well-being, including mindfulness level, quality of life, and cellular aging. Accordingly, many of these studies suggest that meditation practice can improve well-being and may help control cellular aging. Though meditation showed various physiological and psychological benefits, the mechanism behind the meditation and these benefits still remains unclear. However, by reducing a person’s stress level, meditation can improve mindfulness, develop quality of life, and reduce cellular aging.
... Also, Tai Chi and Qi Gong seem to reduce plasma levels of oxidative stress markers (Rosado-P erez et al., 2021). Finally, several types of meditation, including mindfulness meditation, Transcendental Meditation, and MBSR, stimulate anti-inflammatory cytokines, endorphins, neurotransmitters, and neurotrophins (Kasala, Bodduluru, Maneti, & Thipparaboina, 2014; see Pascoe, Thompson, Jenkins, & Ski, 2017 for a meta-analysis). ...
... They both promote axonal growth, dendritic spines multiplication and synaptogenesis in the central and peripheral nervous systems, conferring the brain the ability to constantly adapt to experience via changes at the molecular, cellular, and even structural levels. Specifically, BDNF works with GCs and excitatory aminoacids to regulate plasticity, establishing a molecular connection with the HPA axis (Kasala et al., 2014;McEwen, 2016;McEwen, Nasca, & Gray, 2016). According to McEwen and other authors, the levels of BDNF are critical for this network to function properly: BDNF and GCs functions are interdependent, being linked by a feed-forward loop that supports the neuroplasticity process (Chattarji, Tomar, Suvrathan, Ghosh, & Rahman, 2015;Magariños et al., 2011;. ...
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Many environmental and lifestyle related factors may influence the physiology of the brain and body by acting on fundamental molecular pathways, such as the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and the immune system. For example, stressful conditions created by adverse early-life events, unhealthy habits and low socio-economic status may favor the onset of diseases linked to neuroendocrine dysregulation, inflammation and neuroinflammation. Beside pharmacological treatments used in clinical settings, much attention has been given to complementary treatments such as mind-body techniques involving meditation that rely on the activation of inner resources to regain health. At the molecular level, the effects of both stress and meditation are elicited epigenetically through a set of mechanisms that regulate gene expression as well as the circulating neuroendocrine and immune effectors. Epigenetic mechanisms constantly reshape genome activities in response to external stimuli, representing a molecular interface between organism and environment. In the present work, we aimed to review the current knowledge on the correlation between epigenetics, gene expression, stress and its possible antidote, meditation. After introducing the relationship between brain, physiology, and epigenetics, we will proceed to describe three basic epigenetic mechanisms: chromatin covalent modifications, DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs. Subsequently, we will give an overview of the physiological and molecular aspects related to stress. Finally, we will address the epigenetic effects of meditation on gene expression. The results of the studies reported in this review demonstrate that mindful practices modulate the epigenetic landscape, leading to increased resilience. Therefore, these practices can be considered valuable tools that complement pharmacological treatments when coping with pathologies related to stress.
... Walter et al. (2019) say that this method has a positive effect on psychological and behavioral factors and physiological variables. Positive self-talk also causes a balance between posterior and anterior hypothalamus and thus prevents undesirable effects from stress (Kasala et al., 2014). Also, in this research, the skill of stopping negative thoughts was taught during training and competition that athletes should stop negative thoughts with an image or sign, such as "red", or a saying like "stop" (Shapiro et al., 1998). ...
... Most researchers believe that multi-component interventions often have a positive effect on stress reduction and may help to optimize the various components of stress (Rumbold et al., 2012). Kasala et al. (2014) believe that this method can reduce the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn can reduce the activity of the AHP axis. In this study, a multi-component intervention package was used and reduction of stress was shown after 6 weeks of CBI. ...
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Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of training cognitive-behavioral strategies and interventions based on mindfulness in the competitive stress of snipers (ie, salivary cortisol level) with two-month follow-up. Methods: Twenty-four young male professional snipers with a history of shooting for at least 3 years were randomly divided into three groups: cognitive-behavioral intervention (n = 8), intervention based on mindfulness (n = 8) and group of control (n = 8). Participants in the experimental groups participated in six training sessions over six weeks (75–90 minutes each session). The concentration of salivary cortisol was measured at rest, pre and post-test and follow-up. Results: ANOVA with repeated measures showed a main effect for the group (F2.21 = 3.787, sig = 0.039) and stage (F3.21 = 52.529, sig = 0.001) and also the interactive effect between the groups in the stage (F6, 42 = 3.700, sig = 0.005). Repeated measures ANOVA showed that the cognitive-behavioral intervention at the level of salivary cortisol had an effect on the post-test, while the mindfulness intervention had positive effects on the post-test and follow-up times. There was no significant difference between the mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral groups in the post-test. In addition, the results of the follow-up time showed that there was a significant difference only between mindfulness and the control group. Practical Applications: The results indicate that the practice of psychological skills, especially mindfulness, can be used to reduce pre-competition stress. © 2018. Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia. All rights reserved.
... However, although it is likely that related outcomes might be mediated by changes in the levels of some humoral, immune, and neurological factors, the molecular mechanisms underlying the benefits of mind-body interventions remain poorly understood. The analysis of human peripheral tissues (e.g., blood and saliva) has started to show that various types of meditation can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol and of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as stimulate anti-inflammatory cytokines, endorphins, and neurotrophins (Kasala et al., 2014;Pascoe et al., 2017). In addition, some authors have traced the effect of meditation on such effector molecules back to expression changes of the corresponding genes and, more recently, to specific mechanisms that regulate gene expression (Buric et al., 2017;Kaliman, 2019). ...
... They influence the levels of several metabolites and biomarkers like hormones and neurotransmitters, as well as immune and neuroendocrine factors affected by stress and relevant to disease development and progression (Daube and Jakobsche, 2015;Robert-McComb et al., 2015;Twal et al., 2016;Househam et al., 2017). For example, TM, SK, and Zen meditation were shown to influence levels of cortisol, serotonin, melatonin, epinephrine and norepinephrine, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), glutamate, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; reviewed in Kasala et al., 2014). Nevertheless, although several imaging studies demonstrated that meditation promotes neurogenesis in brain areas involved in cognitive and emotional functions (Tang and Posner, 2014;Lee et al., 2018), studies of neurotrophin levels following meditation are scarce. ...
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Many studies have consistently demonstrated an epigenetic link between environmental stimuli and physiological as well as cognitive responses. Epigenetic mechanisms represent a way to regulate gene activity in real time without modifying the DNA sequence, thus allowing the genome to adapt its functions to changing environmental contexts. Factors such as lifestyle, behavior, and the practice of sitting and moving mindful activities have been shown to be important means of environmental enrichment. Such practices, which include mindfulness meditation, Vipassana, Yoga, Tai Chi, and Quadrato Motor Training, have been reported to positively impact well-being. In fact, they can be considered emotional and attentional regulatory activities, which, by inducing a state of greater inner silence, allow the development of increased self-awareness. Inner silence can therefore be considered a powerful tool to counteract the negative effects of overabundant environmental noise, thanks to its power to relieve stress-related symptoms. Since all these positive outcomes rely on physiological and biochemical activities, the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms influenced by different mindful practices have recently started to be investigated. Here, we review some of the findings that could allow us to uncover the mechanisms by which specific practices influence well-being.
... In our clinical practice, adolescent depression interventions mainly include medication and psychological interventions, but these therapies have a long period of time, high side effects, and are not always effective, and there may be some side effects during the treatment process, so depression treatments are often faced with the dilemma of relapse after healing. has been introduced to treat various mental disorders caused by excessive stress [12]. Meditation training can help individuals to relax and reduce extraneous thought processes, thereby relieving life stress, stabilizing emotions, and improving concentration [13,14] and decreasing anxiety, depression, fatigue, frustration, helplessness, and aggression in individuals [15][16][17] reduces self-denial and suicidal tendencies, helps patients become aware of ways to adapt and cope with stressful psychosocial environments, and improves overall quality of life [18]. ...
Article
ajor Depressive Disorder MDD is a relatively common mental disorder in clinical practice, often accompanied by symptoms such as persistent depressed mood, diminished interest, pessimism, and the feeling that every day of living is an agony.
... Meditation is a mindfulness practice that has been used for centuries to promote relaxation, reduce stress and improve mental well-being [34]. This term encompasses a wide variety of techniques aimed at cultivating mindfulness and promoting relaxation. ...
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Emotional intelligence, encompassing self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy and social skills, holds pivotal importance in the pursuit of excellence for athletes. Meditation, represented by various forms such as mindfulness, loving-kindness, visualization, breath control and relaxation exercises, offers athletes a structured pathway to deepen self-awareness, enhance emotional regulation and foster empathy. In conclusion, meditation emerges not merely as a relaxation technique but as a transformative journey that empowers athletes to master their emotions, excel in sports, and enhance their overall well-being. This narrative literature review highlights the profound impact of meditation on athletes' emotional intelligence, encouraging further exploration in this evolving intersection of sports and mindfulness. In the demanding world of sports, emotional intelligence (EI) is a critical factor for athletes' success, encompassing self-regulation, empathy, communication and composure under pressure. Meditation, a transformative tool for deepening self-awareness, emotional regulation and mental resilience, has emerged as a promising avenue for cultivating EI in athletes. This narrative review synthesizes existing research and personal narratives to explore the interplay between meditation and EI in the context of sports. Evidence suggests that meditation can enhance EI through mindfulness, loving-kindness and visualization practices, promoting focus, stress management and emotional resilience. Integration of meditation into athletic training regimens offers athletes a competitive edge, sharpening their mental acuity and fostering supportive team dynamics. While the transformative potential of meditation for EI is substantiated by research, limitations such as the predominance of qualitative studies and case reports warrant further empirical investigations. Overall, this narrative review highlights the promising relationship between meditation, EI, and athletic performance, paving the way for future research and practical applications of mindfulness practices in the sports world.
... Direct administration of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 to mice also increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) by increasing the production of NO (Madrigal et al., 2002). The increased NO, along with ROS, causes oxidonitrosative stress, which leads to neurotoxic effects through various mechanisms, such as the reduction of BDNF expressions and monoamine levels (Kasala et al., 2014;Amiry et al., 2023). This opinion was supported by our data, as some markers that reflect the status of oxidative and nitrosative stress, such as MDA, GSH, and nitrite, were significantly altered by CUS exposure. ...
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Introduction: Probiotics have been recognized for their various biological activities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigates the therapeutic effect of a novel probiotic formula, BLLL, consisting of Bifidobacterium breve, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Lactobacillus helveticus, on chronic stress-induced depression-like behaviors in mice. Methods: The BLLL formula or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was given orally at a dose of 2, 4, or 8 × 10¹⁰ CFU/kg once daily for 10 days in mice treated with chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) treated or vehicle. Depression-like behaviors were assessed using the sucrose preference test (SPT), the forced swimming test (FST), and the tail suspension test (TST). The mRNA and/or protein expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-4, IL-10, and chitinase-3-like protein 3 (CHI3L1, also known as Ym-1), as well as the concentration of nitrite, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex were examined. Results: The BLLL formula treatment at a dose of 8 × 10¹⁰ CFU/kg, but not at a dose of 2 or 4 × 10¹⁰ CFU/kg, improved CUS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice, as shown by the decrease in immobility time in the TST and FST and the increase in sucrose intake in the SPT. Further analysis revealed that BLLL treatment suppressed the CUS-induced increase in IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA and protein levels, as well as the CUS-induced decrease in IL-4, IL-10, and Ym-1 mRNA and/or protein levels in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. In addition, treatment with the BLLL formula countered the CUS-induced increase in nitrite and MDA levels and the CUS-induced decrease in GSH content and BDNF concentration in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the novel probiotic formula BLLL ameliorates chronic stress-induced depression-like behavior in mice by suppressing neuroinflammation and oxido-nitrosative stress in the brain.
... At the neurological level, well-being is associated with the activation of regions within the brain associated with positive emotions, such as the prefrontal cortex and limbic system (Gothe et al., 2019). Neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins play crucial roles in regulating mood and emotional states, with higher levels correlating with greater feelings of well-being among meditators (Kasala et al., 2014). Furthermore, the endocrine system, through hormones such as cortisol and oxytocin, regulates stress responses and social bonding, contributing to overall well-being (Brown & Gerbarg, 2005). ...
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Well-being, reflecting health, happiness and prosperity, is crucial for quality of life. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of pranayama and mindfulness (vipassana) meditation for improving well-being of university students. In this single-blind randomized control trial, 150 undergraduate students (aged, 18-23 years) were employed. The participants of both genders (male:female = 1:1) were randomly allocated into two groups: yoga (n=75) and control (n=75). The yoga group, engaged in daily 60-min pranayama and mindfulness (vipassana) meditation sessions over a period of ten-weeks, while the control group maintained their regular routine. The participants were assessed for well-being, body mass index, blood pressure and pulse rate using standard measures. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0. Repeated measure analyses of variance (RMANOVA) followed by Bonferroni adjusted post hoc analyses have shown that there is a significant improvement in overall well-being (p<0.001) in the yoga group after ten weeks and at follow-up. Additionally, significant changes were observed in biomarkers (BMI and BP) at different stages of the study (p<0.05, in all cases). The findings of this study reveal that the combined practice of pranayama and mindfulness (vipassana) meditation exhibits potential benefits in improving well-being and biomarker outcomes among university students.
... At the neurological level, well-being is associated with the activation of regions within the brain associated with positive emotions, such as the prefrontal cortex and limbic system (Gothe et al., 2019). Neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins play crucial roles in regulating mood and emotional states, with higher levels correlating with greater feelings of well-being among meditators (Kasala et al., 2014). Furthermore, the endocrine system, through hormones such as cortisol and oxytocin, regulates stress responses and social bonding, contributing to overall well-being (Brown & Gerbarg, 2005). ...
Article
Full-text available
Well-being, reflecting health, happiness and prosperity, is crucial for quality of life. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of pranayama and mindfulness (vipassana) meditation for improving well-being of university students. In this single-blind randomized control trial, 150 undergraduate students (aged, 18-23 years) were employed. The participants of both genders (male:female = 1:1) were randomly allocated into two groups: yoga (n=75) and control (n=75). The yoga group, engaged in daily 60-min pranayama and mindfulness (vipassana) meditation sessions over a period of ten-weeks, while the control group maintained their regular routine. The participants were assessed for well-being, body mass index, blood pressure and pulse rate using standard measures. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0. Repeated measure analyses of variance (RM-ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni adjusted post hoc analyses have shown that there is a significant improvement in overall well-being (p<0.001) in the yoga group after ten weeks and at follow-up. Additionally, significant changes were observed in biomarkers (BMI and BP) at different stages of the study (p<0.05, in all cases). The findings of this study reveal that the combined practice of pranayama and mindfulness (vipassana) meditation exhibits potential benefits in improving well-being and biomarker outcomes among university students.
... The findings showed that elevated state greater performance on attentional and memory activities is an indication of mindfulness. Further, Kasala, Bodduluru, Maneti, & Thipparaboina (2014) explored the impact of meditation on neurophysiological changes in stress-mediated depression. Major depression is often accompanied by cognitive impairment, and while traditional antidepressants have been effective in treating this condition, their lower remission rate presents a challenge, necessitating alternative therapeutic approaches. ...
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With a growing interest in meditation as a means of enhancing overall well-being, it is essential to understand the effects of meditation on mental health outcomes. The review reveals consistent findings indicating that meditation practices have a positive impact on mental health and well-being. Cross-sectional studies demonstrate that individuals who engage in regular meditation exhibit lower levels of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. Controlled studies, including randomized controlled trials, provide stronger evidence, showing that meditation interventions effectively reduce symptoms of mental health disorders and improve psychological well-being. Intervention studies further highlight the benefits of meditation practices in improving attention, cognitive functioning, emotional regulation, and overall subjective well-being. The findings suggest that meditation practices can be valuable tools for promoting mental health and well-being. It highlights the potential of meditation as an effective approach for reducing symptoms of mental health disorders, enhancing psychological well-being, and improving overall quality of life. However, there are areas in need of further research, such as understanding the underlying mechanisms of action, determining optimal dosage and duration of meditation practice, and exploring the long-term effects of meditation.
... There has been evidence that mental stress damages cognitive abilities. In addition to triggering the central and peripheral immune systems, chronic stress also causes the release of inflammatory mediators (Kasala et al., 2014). A wide definition of job stress includes detrimental physical and emotional reactions to negative and unpleasant aspects of the work environment, structure, and content. ...
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Humanitarian aid workers typically experience higher stress levels. Events like assaults on relief workers that could have been psycho-traumatic could be the cause of this. This research investigates the influence of yoga practice on stress resilience in humanitarian aid employees. comparing those who engage in yoga practice with those who do not. To accomplish this goal, 300 humanitarian aid workers (mean age: 35.8, range: 25-45) were divided into two groups: yoga (Treatment Group) and non-yoga (Control Group) by using stratified random sampling. For this study, online questionnaires were used and respondents were chosen from among NGOs in Sarvodaya and World Vision. confidence, Emotional Insight, Negative Cognition, Social skills, and Empathy are the four key dimensions used to measure the explanatory variable of Stress resilience. The collected data were analyzed by using the SPSS 21 version from ANOVA to find out the significant difference between the two groups. The experimental group posttest p-value of these five variables is (.000) then the p-value is less than the significant value (5%). The control group had no appreciable variations during the same time. This research contributes to the understanding of stress resilience in humanitarian aid workers and the potential role of yoga in enhancing their well-being.
... The main focus of the research on assessing the effects of meditation practices on gene expression in immune cells has been on stressrelated inflammatory markers and associated biological pathways [3,9]. Techniques such as TM, Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY), and Zen meditation influence the levels of neuro-hormonal factors and impact the expression of genes and proteins [10]. Regular SKY practitioners have shown reduced blood lactate and improved antioxidant status, indicating a reduction in oxidative stress [11]. ...
... A meta-analysis indicated that depression and anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with higher cancer-specific mortality and poorer cancer survival rates [13], which greatly reduced the quality of life in cancer patients [14]. Although the symptoms of depression and anxiety can be alleviated by drug intervention, the uncertainty of related side effects, short-term effectiveness and long-term benefits [15] have led people to gradually turn their attention to complementary and alternative medicine to manage various psychological problems [16]. ...
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Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and practicability of Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM) as a psychological intervention to reduce neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), fear of cancer recurrence, general distress, and improve quality of life in lung cancer survivors. Methods: Eighty lung cancer patients with FCRI severity subscale (≥13 points) were recruited and randomly assigned to CALM or usual care (UC). NLR was recorded before and after treatment. The Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI), Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21) were used to evaluate patients at baseline (T0), immediately after treatment (T1), and at 2 (T2) and 4 (T3) months. Results: Compared with UC, NLR was significantly different before and after CALM intervention (z=-5.498; P=0.000). There were significant differences in the scores of QLQ, FCR and general distress before and after the T1, T2 and T3 interventions (F=220.30, F=315.20, F=290.10, respectively; P<0.001). NLR was negatively correlated with QOL both before (r=-0.763; P<0.0001) and after the intervention (r=-0.810, P<0.0001). FCR and general distress were negatively correlated with QOL in CALM (T0: r=-0.726, r=-0.776, respectively; P<0.0001; T1: r=-0.664, r=-0.647, respectively; P<0.0001; T2: r=-0.678, r=-0.695, respectively; P<0.0001; T3: r=-0.511, P = 0.0008; r=-0.650, P<0.0001). Conclusion: CALM intervention can effectively reduce the NLR, alleviate the recurrence fear and general distress and improve the quality of life in patients. This study suggests that CALM may be an effective psychological intervention for reducing symptoms associated with lung cancer survivors.
... For instance, opioid release, specifically endorphins, have been linked to a range of psychological disorders that impact PH (Naber & Piekar, 1983). In another study, (Kasala et al., 2014) linked meditation practice with neurophysiological changes beneficial for PH, such as increased 5-HT, a neurotransmitter important for regulating mood, sleep and appetite. ...
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Increasingly health is recognised as a holistic construct that includes both mind and body. What is more, the bidirectional relationship between psychological wellbeing (PW) and physical health (PH) is becoming clearer. Psychological interventions have been shown to be effective at increasing PW and are widely accessible. However, there has not yet been a systematic synthesis of how improving PW using psychological interventions benefits PH. The aim of the study was to review the existing literature on how increasing PW via psychological interventions can improve PH, commenting on effectiveness and causal mechanisms, and suggesting directions for future research. A systematic review of peer reviewed studies was utilised. This took a broad search approach to include quantitative research concerning the impacts of psychological interventions on PH published between January 1998 and June 2022 in both clinical and non-clinical populations. From 1647 search results a total of 74 studies were included in the review with 10305 participants in total. Studies measured 139 individual PH outcomes for which 60 statistically significant effects were observed. Cognitive behavioural therapy-based interventions were most associated with both significant and non-significant effects, commonly impacting various self-report measures of PH. Positive psychology interventions (PPIs) also showed a higher proportion of significant effects. Mindfulness-based interventions had a clear link to reductions in cortisol, demonstrating significant effects in 2/3 studies. Pathways by which interventions improved PH broadly fell into three categories: 1) protect 2) reduce, and 3) produce. Within each category improvements were driven by biological, behavioural, or social support mechanisms. The present review supports the notion that psychological interventions can benefit PH and corroborates potential pathways that may drive this association. Future studies could benefit from defining PW better, thus unpacking the nuance in how targeting different areas of PW appears to impact different markers of PH.
... The varying stages of super consciousness that manifest between Vitark anugata to DS are the different forms of consciousness and WB that appear before the complete escape of the Purusha (self) from the influential field of Prakritieno-self (nature). Meditation washes mental contents, optimizes neuroendocrine secretions, brain waves, immunity, and cardiopulmonary rhythms; mitigates stress, and induces inner harmony, happiness, and fulfillment [68,69]. Meditation is an effective means for empowering an individual's bio-psycho-spiritual health, wellness, and faculties (rational, creative, emotional, social, and spiritual intelligence). ...
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The discussions on conceptualization, operationalization, measures, and means of well-being (WB) and personal excellence (PE) are dynamic and debatable. Therefore, this study aims to coin a perspective of PE based on the Patanjali Yoga Sūtra (PYS). For this, professional, psychological, philosophical, and yogic perspectives of WB and PE are analyzed to derive a viable yogic framework for PE. The WB and the consciousness-based constructs of PE are discussed in terms of psychic tensions (PTs) (nescience, egoism, attachment, aversion, and love for life), yogic hindrances (YHs) (illness, apathy, doubt, procrastination, laziness, over somatosensory indulgence, delusion, inability, and unstable progress), psychosomatic impairments (pain, despair, tremors, arrhythmic breath), and yogic aids (wellness, intrinsic motivation, faith, role punctuality, physical activity, sensory control, clarity, competence, and sustainable progress). The PYS operationalizes PE as the dynamic level of WB and self-awareness until one attains Dharmamegha Samādhi (super consciousness). Lastly, Ashtanga Yoga (AY) is discussed as a universal principle, process, and practice for thinning PTs, vanishing YHs, empowering holistic WB, awakening extrasensory potentials, advancing self-awareness, and PE. This study will be a pioneering base for further observational and interventional studies to develop measures and personalized protocols for PE.
... 7,8 Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) can fill this gap by providing a holistic body-mind-soul approach that encourages body recovery and rest related to balance and improving psychophysiological regulation. 9 The provision of MBAT intervention services can overcome the weaknesses of existing types of therapy but has covered overall deficiencies in the implementation of existing mental health services. MBAT interventions art therapy became a verbal communication method that was able to minimize intimidation compared to commonly used verbal communication methods and was able to advocate for mental health, breaking the stigma of legal counseling services, and offer proactive support through minimal contact that serves as a gateway to those who need help to manage their mental health disorders without feeling intimidated. ...
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a new stressor with significant pregnancy consequences, limiting access to health services. Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) has been proven to intervene in the body-mind-soul and improve mental health problems. However, no research has developed it into a form of artificial intelligence for use by pregnant women in supporting the current situation of access to health services.Purpose: This study aims to produce a system of MBAT based on artificial intelligence for early detection and to prove the effectiveness of improving mental health in pregnant women.Methods: This study employed Research & Development consisting of 4 stages, namely Literature Study, Development Stage, Validity Expert, and Trial.Results: The MBAT application has five features, from mental health information to history. The validity score of the application system is 87.33%. The trial results showed that the application effectively reduces stress levels by 91.26% and anxiety by 90.24%. Also, the application can predict the percentage reduction in stress and anxiety levels correctly and without errors using the decision tree.Conclusion: This application is helpful for pregnant women and health workers in detecting stress and anxiety levels early in pregnancy and improving mental health.
... It is extremely troublesome to evade animal model, which perfectly mimics the clinical signs of depression (Yan et al. 2010). However, chronic or mild stress could induce depression-like behaviour in animals (Dhir et al. 2006;Kumari et al. 2007;Bhutani et al. 2009;Kumar and Garg 2009;Kasala et al. 2014), which has been utilized to establish animal model via straining them using immobilization or exposure to cold/low temperature. In addition, the forced swim test (FST) is one of the paradigms to screen drugs with antidepressant potential against the various forms of stress exposure (Kumar and Goyal 2008). ...
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The present study evaluates the potential of neuroprotective phytochemicals-rutin (R), resveratrol (Res), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2), and their different combinations against chronic immobilization stress (CIS)-induced depression-like behaviour in male albino mice. Here, the mice were exposed to stress via immobilization of their four limbs under a restrainer for 6 h daily until 7 days of the induction after 30 min of respective drug treatment in different mice groups. The result found the protective effect of these phytoconstituents and their combinations against CIS-induced depression due to their ability to suppress oxidative stress, restore mitochondria, HPA-axis modulation, neurotransmitter level, stress hormones, and inflammatory markers. Also, the combination drug regimens of these phytoconstituents showed synergistic results in managing the physiological and biochemical features of depression. Thus, these neuroprotective could be utilized well in combination to manage depression-like symptoms during episodic stress. Furthermore, such results could be well justified when administered in polyherbal formulation with these neuroprotective as major components. In addition, an advanced study can be designed at the molecular and epigenetics level using a formulation based on these neuroprotective.
... Treatment with paeoniflorin at a dose of 2.5 or 5 mg/kg (i.p., twice daily) for 7 or 14 days (Guo et al., 2012;Zhang et al., 2015a) or administered intravenously at a dose of 15 or 20 mg/kg before blockade of blood flow (Tang et al., 2010) has been shown to ameliorate neurological deficits and neuronal apoptosis induced by MCAO (with or without reperfusion) by suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), as well as the overactivation of astrocytes ( Figure 2A). The pathologically elevated nitric oxide (NO) derived from iNOS, together with reactive oxygen species, causes oxido-nitrosative stress that leads to neurotoxic effects via mechanisms such as down-regulation of neurotrophic factor expression and monoamine levels (Kasala et al., 2014;Yang et al., 2017). Since paeoniflorin administration can inhibit both oxidative stress and neuroinflammation (Jayaraj et al., 2019;Wu et al., 2020a), NO may help to establish a causal relationship between the anti-oxidative stress and the antineuroinflammatory effect of paeoniflorin. ...
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Paeoniflorin, a terpenoid glycoside compound extracted from Paeonia lactiflora Pall, shows preventive and therapeutic effects in various types of nervous system disorders. However, to date, no comprehensive knowledge on the pharmacological effects of paeoniflorin on the nervous system is available online. Clarification of this issue may be useful for the development of paeoniflorin as a new drug for the treatment of nervous system disorders. To this end, the authors summarize the pharmacological aspects of paeoniflorin and its possible mechanisms, such as restoration of mitochondrial function; inhibition of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular apoptosis; activation of adenosine A1 receptor, cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2); or enhancement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and serotonin function, in the prevention of disorders such as cerebral ischemia, subarachnoid hemorrhage, vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, post-traumatic syndrome disorder, and epilepsy, by reviewing the previously published literature.
... It has been well documented that nitrite oxide (NO) acts as an activator of neuroinflammatory response (Yuste, Tarragon, Campuzano, & Ros-Bernal, 2015). Interestingly, ROS and NO decrease monoamines and BDNF levels in the brain, causing depression (Kasala, Bodduluru, Maneti, & Thipparaboina, 2014). ...
Article
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a life‐threatening disease that presents several characteristics. The pathogenesis of depression still remains poorly understood. Moreover, the mechanistic interactions of natural components in treating depression to target autophagy and neuroinflammation are yet to be evaluated. This study overviewed the effects of plant‐derived natural components in regulating critical pathways, particularly neuroinflammation and autophagy, associated with depression. A list of natural components, including luteolin, apigenin, hyperforin, resveratrol, salvianolic acid b, isoliquiritin, nobiletin, andrographolide, and oridonin, have been investigated. All peer‐reviewed journal articles were searched by Scopus, MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using the appropriated keywords, including depression, neuroinflammation, autophagy, plant, natural components, etc. The neuroinflammation and autophagy dysfunction are critically associated with the pathophysiology of depression. Natural components with higher efficiency and lower complications can be used for targeting neuroinflammation and autophagy. These components with different doses showed the beneficial antidepressant properties in rodents. These can modulate autophagy markers, mainly AMPK, LC3II/LC3I ratio, Beclin‐1. Moreover, they can regulate the NLRP3 inflammasome, resulting in the suppression of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL‐1β and IL‐18). Future in vitro and in vivo studies are required to develop novel therapeutic approaches based on plant‐derived active components to treat MDD.
... The Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis is activated when the brain perceives a stressor and as a result cortisol is released. Increased cortisol and oxidative stress cause physical and mental stress (Kasala et al., 2014). Stress also has a negative effect on mental and physical wellbeing (Rector et al., 2016). ...
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Meditation involves psychophysical training which can result in a range of benefits including creating a calm mind and increasing self-awareness, relaxation, and tranquility. Increasing evidence, mostly based on short-term focused interventions, suggests that meditation-based activities may also have favorable effects on physical wellbeing including cellular aging. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate if continued practice of meditation benefited quality of life, state of mindfulness, and plasma telomerase level in healthy adults. 30 long-term and skilled meditators were recruited from meditation centers in different parts of the island following a two-tier screening process of 70 eligible participants and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy non-meditators were recruited from the community. Mindfulness level and the quality of life were measured using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and Quality of Life Questionnaire, respectively, while the levels of plasma telomerase enzyme were measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Skilled meditators had a better mindfulness level (p < 0.001) and quality of life (QOL; p < 0.001) than those in the comparison group. Similarly, higher plasma telomerase levels were observed in skilled meditators compared to non-meditators (p = 0.002). Trait mindfulness level and plasma telomerase level showed a significant relationship with the duration of meditation practice (p = 0.046 and p = 0.011, respectively). Regression analysis indicated that trait mindfulness level (p < 0.001) significantly predicts the plasma telomerase level. The findings of this comparative study add to the evidence on sustained benefits of meditation on wellbeing and healthy aging and supports incorporating meditation-based activities into lifestyle practices.
... Our observation on a lower serum nitrite level may reflect a lower NO generation, especially via inducible nitric oxide synthase. Mindfulness and yoga meditation is known to significantly reduce pro-inflammatory gene expression including NF-kB which in turn may downregulate the expression of iNOS (Black et al., 2019;Kasala et al., 2014) that would lead to minimizing the serum RNS levels. Our findings emphasize on further investigations on the expression of iNOS for elucidation of exact mechanism involved. ...
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Objectives Recent medical research into meditation based on stress, pain, coping, and quality of life has shown an overall positive impact on health and immunological outcomes including oxidative stress. This study was aimed to assess the total nitric oxide, nitrite levels, and antioxidant capacity in experienced meditators compared to an age-, gender-, and education level–matched non-meditating group and to determine relationship between these parameters. Methods The total serum nitric oxide (NOx:NO3⁻ + NO2⁻) and nitrite (NO2⁻) levels of long-term, experienced meditators (n = 12), recruited using a validated interview, and age-, gender-, and educational level–matched control subjects (n = 12) who had never practiced meditation, were determined using the modified Griess and Griess assay respectively. The Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) was determined using the ABTS assay using Trolox as a standard. Results Serum NOx 5.03 ± 0.31 (mean ± SD) and nitrite levels 0.52 ± 0.05 of the meditators were significantly lower and TEAC values 424.35 ± 41.53 of the meditators were significantly higher compared to control group who had serum NOx levels of 5.42 ± 0.42 (p = 0.016, d = − 1.05), nitrite levels of 0.92 ± 0.52 (p = 0.014, d = − 1.08), and TEAC values of 376.15 ± 12.69 (p = 0.001, d = 1.57). There was a correlation of the TEAC levels with NO2⁻ (r = 0.562; d = 0.316) and NOx (r = 0.664; d = 0.441). Conclusions These findings indicate a lower production of nitric oxide and a higher serum antioxidant capacity in the long-term meditators with potential beneficial effects against oxidative stress.
... Both complaints were significantly improved by meditation practices by 42.9% and 35.0%, respectively, and the anti-depressive effect was more prominent in patients with mental disorders (57.9%) than in those with physical disorders (35.1%) ( Figure 3). The therapeutic mechanisms of meditation against major depressive disorders are understood as upregulation of serotonin and dopamine along with neuro-immunoendocrinological modulation [126]. Sleep quality and fatigue-related benefits were the most positive in the current study by 73.9% and 68.4%, respectively, which increased further in subjects with mental disorders (100.0% ...
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Background: Meditation has been increasingly adapted for healthy populations and participants with diseases. Its beneficial effects are still challenging to determine due to the heterogeneity and methodological obstacles regarding medical applications. This study aimed to integrate the features of therapeutic meditation in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: We conducted a systematic review of RCTs with meditation for populations with diseases using the PubMed database through June 2021. We analyzed the characteristics of the diseases/disorders, participants, measurements, and their overall benefits. Results: Among a total of 4855 references, 104 RCTs were determined and mainly applied mindfulness-based (51 RCTs), yoga-based (32 RCTs), and transcendental meditation (14 RCTs) to 10,139 patient-participants. These RCTs were conducted for participants with a total of 45 kinds of disorders; the most frequent being cancer, followed by musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases and affective mood disorder. Seven symptoms or signs were frequently assessed: depressive mood, feeling anxious, quality of life, stress, sleep, pain, and fatigue. The RCTs showed a higher ratio of positive outcomes for sleep (73.9%) and fatigue (68.4%). Conclusions: This systematic review produced the comprehensive features of RCTs for therapeutic meditation. These results will help physicians and researchers further study clinical adaptations in the future as reference data.
... The PFC monitors executive functions such as decision making and problem-solving ability. When the prefrontal cortex is stimulated, which in turn produces GABA that may help to decrease anxiety and stress levels [18]. Streeter concluded from 12 weeks of experimental study that yoga postures are associated with increase of hypothalamic GABA levels and improve mood & anxiety [16] Norepinephrine (NE) is another neurotransmitter involved in anxiety. ...
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Life is meant to be lived happily, enjoying each and every moment of this blissful world. However, in the fast-paced world of today, human lifestyle is changing very fast. In order to cope with efficiency relation, work pressure and to excel in their respective fields, modern man is becoming the victim of stress. It has become the curse of 21st century and is considered as silent killer in the modern world. During recent decades numerous yoga-based practices have emerged with their aims ranging from fitness gains, therapeutic benefits to spiritual development. The purpose of the study was to examine the empirical evidences to ensure how and what part of yoga can be the most useful for reducing stress. Electronic database search yielded 43 articles for the systematic review out of which only 6 relevant articles were considered and revealed that the stress and stress induced disorders like obesity, depression, anxiety and hypertension are the fast-growing epidemics and curse of "modern" society. Relevant articles further revealed that meditation, Pranayama raise the levels of monoamines, increase parasympathetic activity, reduce oxidative stress; enhance the levels of endogenous antioxidants and activity of antioxidants enzymes. Yoga is reported to reduce stress and anxiety and improve autonomic function by triggering neuro-hormonal mechanisms.
... Concretely, pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β and TNF-α, increases the production of ROS via enhancing NO production [65]. The increased NO together with ROS subsequently causes oxido-nitrosative stress which leads to neurotoxic effects [66]. This hypothesis was evidenced further by our present finding that markers reflecting the higher status of oxidative-nitrosative stress, such as MDA and nitrite, in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were increased markedly by a single LPS injection, while the GSH contents were reduced, suggesting that there is a potential dysfunction of the oxidative/antioxidative system. ...
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Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress play critical roles in pathogenesis of depression. Diallyl disulfide (DADS), an active compound in garlic oil, has been shown to exhibit obvious anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. Preliminary evidence indicates that depression is associated with high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative markers, suggesting that inhibition of neuroinflammatory response and oxidative stress may be beneficial for depression interruption. Here, we investigated the antidepressant effect of DADS as well as it mechanisms in a depression-like model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Similarly to imipramine (10 mg/kg), a clinical antidepressant, DADS (40 or 80 mg/kg), which was administered 1 h before LPS treatment (pre-LPS) or 1.5 h and 23.5 h after LPS treatment (post-LPS), prevented and reversed LPS (100 μg/kg)-induced increase in immobility time in the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) in mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that DADS pre-treatment or post-treatment at the dose of 40 and 80 mg/kg prevented and reversed (i) LPS-induced increases in interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, (ii) LPS-induced increases in contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), a parameter reflecting high levels of oxidative stress, and (iii) LPS-induced decreases in contents of GSH, a marker reflecting weakened anti-oxidative ability, in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in mice. These results indicate that DADS is comparable to imipramine in effectively ameliorating LPS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice, providing a potential value for DADS in prevention and/or therapy of depression.
... During the process of meditation, accumulated stresses are removed, energy is increased, and health is positively affected overall .Research has confirmed a myriad of health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, (Arias, Steinberg, Banga, & Trestman, 2006;Horowitz, 2010;Burns, Lee, & Brown, 2011;Elder, Nidich, Moriarty, & Nidich, 2014), decreased anxiety (Chen, et al., 2012;Orme-Johnson & Barnes, 2014),decreased depression (Lavretsky, et al., 2013;Kasala, Bodduluru, Maneti, & Thipparaboina, 2014), reduction in pain (both physical and psychological) (Grant, Courtemanche, Duerden, Duncan, & Rainville, 2010), improved memory (Khalsa, 2015),and increased efficiency (Deepeshwar, Vinchurkar, Visweswaraiah, & Nagendra, 2015). Physiological benefits include reduced blood pressure (Brook, et al., 2013), heart rate (Telles, et al., 2013), lactate (Solberg, et al., 2000),cortisol (Lau, Leung, Chan, Wong, & Lee, 2015), and epinephrine (Infante, et al., 2001); decreased metabolism , breathing pattern (Travis, 2014), oxygen utilization, and carbon dioxide elimination ; and increased melatonin (Harinath, et al., 2004), skin resistance (Telles, et al., 2013), and relative blood flow to the brain. ...
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Suicide is a social phenomenon and is mainly caused by mental disorder which may be attributed to by genetic, neurotic, and environmental constructs. A total of 5,124 people had committed suicide in the fiscal year 2016/17.The number rose to 5,317 in 2017/18 and to 5,785 in 2018/19. Various social and biological factors have significant roles to create the suicidal thought in depressed people. So it is necessary to explore the coping mechanism of suicidal thought. The main objective of this study is to explore the knowledge and practice for meditation, its process, therefore its effects on human mind and body to control the negative thought leading to suicide. The study is based on the review of literatures concerning a subject. The study has collected the various related literatures and thoroughly reviewed it. The result shows that there is significant effect of meditation on improving the psychological personalities just by reducing the stress level and controlling the suicidal feeling in mind. Many experimental studies have found the significant difference in pre and post thoughts of suicidal indicators after an intervention ina meditation program. In a modern society, people have no time to think for themselves, no time to connect with own inner qualities. The physical facilities are dominant on the daily life activities which has created problem in the work-life balance also so there is need to beware the people especially for many productive age groups to spend some time in doing regular meditation to improve the psychological personalities.
... Overall, meditation's extensive health benefits are well-documented. In addition to reducing stress (Grossman et al., 2004), mindfulness meditation has demonstrated efficacy in treating multiple conditions including substance abuse (Carim-Todd et al., 2013), pain management (Cherkin et al., 2016;Nascimento et al., 2018), hypertension (Park et al., 2014), anxiety (Zeidan et al., 2014), depression (Kasala et al., 2014), and offering preventative effects in a healthy population (Wolsko et al., 2004;Barnes et al., 2008). However, the specific neural mechanisms of the practices' broad range of benefits remain unknown. ...
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Meditation has shown to benefit a wide range of conditions and symptoms, but the neural mechanisms underlying the practice remain unclear. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have investigated the structural brain changes due to the practice by examining volume, density, or cortical thickness changes. However, these studies have focused on adults; meditation’s structural effects on the adolescent brain remain understudied. In this study, we investigated how meditation training affects the structure of the adolescent brain by scanning a group of 38 adolescents (16.48 ± 1.29 years) before and after participating in a 12-week meditation training. Subjects underwent Training for Awareness, Resilience, and Action (TARA), a program that mainly incorporates elements from mindfulness meditation and yoga-based practices. A subset of the adolescents also received an additional control scan 12 weeks before TARA. We conducted voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to assess gray matter volume changes pre- to post-training and during the control period. Subjects showed significant gray matter (GM) volume decreases in the left posterior insula and to a lesser extent in the left thalamus and left putamen after meditation training. There were no significant changes during the control period. Our results support previous findings that meditation affects regions associated with physical and emotional awareness. However, our results are different from previous morphometric studies in which meditation was associated with structural increases. We posit that this discrepancy may be due to the differences between the adolescent brain and the adult brain.
... The activated immune system in the brain first induces a proinflammatory cascade, which includes a tremendous production of various pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β and TNF-α, and then the increased pro-inflammatory cytokines promote the production of reactive oxygen species via enhancing nitrite synthesis and release [56]. The increased nitrite together with reactive oxygen species subsequently causes oxido-nitrosative stress which leads to behavioral abnormalities [57]. This hypothesis was evidenced further by our present findings that markers reflecting oxidative/nitrosative stress, such as MDA and nitrite, in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were increased markedly by a single LPS injection, and meanwhile the levels of GSH in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were reduced by LPS injection. ...
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Background: Depression is associated with high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative markers. Inhibition of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress is beneficial for depression prevention and/or therapy. Diallyl disulfide (DADS), an active compound in garlic oil, has been shown to inhibit neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role and mechanism of DADS in lipopolysacharide (LPS)-induced depression-like behaviors in mice. Methods: We used behavioral tests and biochemical analysis to illustrate the role and mechanism of DADS in depression regulation. Results: Similarly to imipramine (10 mg/kg), a clinical antidepressant, DADS (40 or 80 mg/kg), which was administered 1 h before LPS treatment (pre-LPS) or 1.5 h and 23.5 h after LPS treatment (post-LPS), prevented and reversed the LPS (100 μg/kg)-induced increase in immobility time in the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) in mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that DADS pre-treatment or post-treatment at the dose of 40 and 80 mg/kg prevented and reversed (i) the LPS-induced increases in interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, (ii) the LPS-induced increases in contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), a parameter reflecting high levels of oxidative stress, as well as (iii) the LPS-induced decreases in contents of GSH, a marker reflecting weakened anti-oxidative ability, in both hippocampus and prefrontal cortexes in mice. Conclusions: DADS is comparable to imipramine in effectively ameliorating LPS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice, providing a potential value for DADS in prevention and/or therapy of depression.
... The effect of meditation consists in the general acceleration of performance of a linguistic task for all categories of emotional (but not neutral) sentences and in reduction of differences in the TPT between anxiety and aggression related sentences. This correlates with the assumption that meditation improves voluntary control over own emotions (Aftanas and Golosheykin, 2005;Marchand, 2012;Kasala et al., 2014). Our result could be interpreted as an indicator that meditators reduce the extent of negative perception of sentences about aggression that improves their control over execution of a grammatical task. ...
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The main goal of this study was to examine the effect of long-term meditation practice on behavioral indicators and ERP peak characteristics during an error-recognition task, where participants were presented with emotionally negative (evoking anxiety or aggression) written sentences describing self-related or non-self-related emotional state and personality traits. In total, 200 sentences written in Russian with varying emotional coloring were presented during the task, with half of the sentences containing a grammatical error that the participants were asked to identify. The EEG was recorded in age-matched control individuals (n = 17) and two groups of Samatha meditators with relatively short- (3–5 years’ experience, n = 18) and long-term (10–30 years’ experience, n = 18) practice experience. Task performance time (TPT) and accuracy of error detection (AED) were chosen as behavioral values. Amplitude, time latency and cortical distribution of P300 and P600 peaks of ERP were used as a value of speech-related brain activity. All statistical effects of meditation were estimated, controlling for age and sex. No behavioral differences between two groups of meditators were found. General TPT was shorter for both groups of meditators compared to the control group. Non-meditators reacted significantly slower to sentences about aggression than to sentences about anxiety or non-emotional sentences, whereas no significance was found between meditator groups. Non-meditators had better AED for the sentences about one-self than for the sentences about other people, whereas the meditators did not show any significant difference. The amplitude of P300 peak in frontal and left temporal scalp regions was higher for long-term meditators in comparison with both intermediate and control groups. The latency of P300 and P600 in left frontal and temporal regions positively correlated with TPT, whereas the amplitude of P300 in these regions had a negative correlation with TPT. We demonstrate that long-term meditation practice increases the ability of an individual to process negative emotional stimuli. The differences in behavioral reactions after onset of negative information that was self-related and non-self-related, which is typical for non-meditators, disappeared due to the influence of meditation. ERP results could be interpreted as a value of increase in voluntary control over emotional state during meditational practice.
... [12], [13], [14], [15], [16] Moreover, pro-inflammatory cytokines activate hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal axis and also alter monoaminergic neurotransmitters such as DA, serotonin (5-hydroxy ), and NE. [17] Thus, activation of inflammatory pathway leads to oxidonitrosative damage, altering synaptic plasticity and catecholamine levels in different brain regions. ...
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... Although we still do not know how lycopene simultaneously inhibits oxidative stress, neuro-apoptosis, and neuroinflammation, the NO signaling is highly suspected to mediate these processes. This hypothesis has been supported by the finding that the increased NO promotes the production of ROS and reactive nitrous species (RNS), thereby triggering oxido-nitrosative stress and neurotoxic response via different mechanisms, such as impairment of mitochondrial function [83,84] and alteration of neurotransmitter levels [85]. ...
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Depression is a very common mental disease. Though the exact etiology and pathogenesis of depression are not clear, antidepressants have been developed quickly with the advance in research on the etiology and pathology of depression. They still can not meet clinical needs with respect to both efficacy and side effects. A diversity of multi-target strategies are proposed for the future generation of successful antidepressants. In this paper, the neurobiological mechanisms of depression and the characteristics of antidepressants are reviewed.
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Effect of rhythmic breathing (sudarshan kriya and pranayam) on immune functions and tobacco addiction. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1056:242-52. Stress affects different systems in the body, including the immune system and the endocrine system, and thereby affects the whole physiology. Stress is also linked to the habit of tobacco consumption and substance abuse, which in turn leads to disease states. Previous research has suggested that Sudarshan Kriya (SK) and Pranayama (P), rhythmic breathing processes derived from yoga, reduce stress and improve immune functions. In this study, the possible affect of SK&P on natural killer (NK) cells, a critical cell type in the immune system which helps fight pathogens and cancer, was assessed in cancer patients who completed their standard therapy. SK&P practice correlated with increases in NK cell numbers, but not in the number of other immune cells. Furthermore, SK&P helped to reduce tobacco use in 21% of the individuals at 6 months of practice. Larger and randomized studies are needed, but these findings suggest that SK&P may help boost the immune system in cancer patients.
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Depression is a very common mental health problem in our modern society. Stress is involved in the provocation of depression. The pathogenesis of depressive disorder is still not well known. The development of neuroendocrine immunology opens a new sight for clarification of mechanism underlying stress-induced depression. Chronic stress activates peripheral and central immune systems accompanied with the release of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines. Activated immune system mediates the process of depression through the interaction with neuron system and neuroendocrine system, including regulating the monoamine neurotransmitter system in synthesis, metabolism and reuptake, inducing the overactivation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and its negative feedback regulation, and reducing neurogenesis. This present paper reviews the cytokines mechanisms underlying stress-induced depression.
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Mindfulness meditation-based therapies are being increasingly used as interventions for psychiatric disorders. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) have been studied extensively. MBSR is beneficial for general psychological health and pain management. MBCT is recommended as an adjunctive treatment for unipolar depression. Both MBSR and MBCT have efficacy for anxiety symptoms. Informed clinicians can do much to support their patients who are receiving mindfulness training. This review provides information needed by clinicians to help patients maximize the benefits of mindfulness training and develop an enduring meditation practice.
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Reading these accounts of real patients, edited to focus on information relevant to differential diagnosis, has proven to be an effective and enjoyable way for clinicians and students to get experience applying the principles of differential diagnosis to a wide range of patients. Each case is followed by a discussion of our differential diagnosis, made according to the diagnostic criteria in the . . . Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) [see PA, Vol 81:41146; 94-140001-000]. These cases can be used for a variety of purposes. They should be of value to experienced clinicians, facilitating their understanding of the concepts and terminology in DSM-IV. . . . Teachers and students of abnormal psychology in the disciplines of psychology, psychiatry, social work, and psychiatric nursing will find these cases useful as illustrations of various types of psychopathology. Similarly, other professionals, such as primary care physicians, internists, and attorneys, may find them instructive. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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Patient use of complementary and alternative treatments, including yoga, to manage mood and anxiety disorders, has been well documented. Despite research interest, there are few recent reviews of the evidence of the benefit of yoga in these conditions. The PubMed, Medline and PsycInfo databases were searched for literature published up to July 2008, relating to yoga and depressive and anxiety disorders. The paucity of reported studies and several methodological constraints limit data interpretation. In depressive disorders, yoga may be comparable to medication and the combination superior to medication alone. There is reasonable evidence for its use as second-line monotherapy or augmentation to medication in mild to moderate major depression and dysthymia, with early evidence of benefit in more severe depression. In anxiety disorders, yoga may be superior to medication for a subgroup of patients, but its benefits in specific conditions are still largely unknown. Second-line monotherapy is indicated in performance or test anxiety, but only preliminary evidence exists for obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Yoga appears to be superior to no treatment and progressive relaxation for both depression and anxiety, and may benefit mood and anxiety symptoms associated with medical illness. It shows good safety and tolerability in short-term treatment. Reasonable evidence supports the benefit of yoga in specific depressive disorders. The evidence is still preliminary in anxiety disorders. Given its patient appeal and the promising findings thus far, further research on yoga in these conditions is encouraged.
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The effects of Qi-training on anxiety, and plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, and aldosterone in healthy young men was investigated. Thirty-two subjects were randomly assigned to a sham control group or a Qi-training group. Although the basal level of anxiety did not differ between the groups, there was a significant group by time interaction of the 1-hour intervention; anxiety decreased by 26 per cent in the Qi-training group and by 9 per cent in the control group. After Qi-training, the plasma concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, and aldosterone decreased, but these levels did not change in the control group. These findings suggest that Qi-training improves anxiety and has a significant effect on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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The chronic mild (or unpredictable/variable) stress (CMS) model was developed as an animal model of depression more than 20 years ago. The foundation of this model was that following long-term exposure to a series of mild, but unpredictable stressors, animals would develop a state of impaired reward salience that was akin to the anhedonia observed in major depressive disorder. In the time since its inception, this model has also been used for a variety of studies examining neurobiological variables that are associated with depression, despite the fact that this model has never been critically examined to validate that the neurobiological changes induced by CMS are parallel to those documented in depressive disorder. The aim of the current review is to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of chronic mild stress on neurobiological variables, such as neurochemistry, neurochemical receptor expression and functionality, neurotrophin expression and cellular plasticity. These findings are then compared to those of clinical research examining common variables in populations with depressive disorders to determine if the changes observed following chronic mild stress are in fact consistent with those observed in major depression. We conclude that the chronic mild stress paradigm: (1) evokes an array of neurobiological changes that mirror those seen in depressive disorders and (2) may be a suitable tool to investigate novel systems that could be disturbed in depression, and thus aid in the development of novel targets for the treatment of depression.
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A tight, physiological link between the pineal gland and the immune system is emerging from a series of experimental studies. This link might reflect the evolutionary connection between self-recognition and reproduction. Pinealectomy or other experimental methods which inhibit melatonin synthesis and secretion induce a state of immunodepression which is counteracted by melatonin. In general, melatonin seems to have an immunoenhancing effect that is particularly apparent in immunodepressive states. The negative effect of acute stress or immunosuppressive pharmacological treatments on various immune parameters are counteracted by melatonin. It seems important to note that one of the main targets of melatonin is the thymus, i.e., the central organ of the immune system. The clinical use of melatonin as an immunotherapeutic agent seems promising in primary and secondary immunodeficiencies as well as in cancer immunotherapy. The immunoenhancing action of melatonin seems to be mediated by T-helper cell-derived opioid peptides as well as by lymphokines and, perhaps, by pituitary hormones. Melatonin-induced-immuno-opioids (MHO) and lymphokines imply the presence of specific binding sites or melatonin receptors on cells of the immune system. On the other hand, lymphokines such as --interferon and interleukin-2 as well as thymic hormones can modulate the synthesis of melatonin in the pineal gland. The pineal gland might thus be viewed as the crux of a sophisticated immunoneuroendocrine network which functions as an unconscious, diffuse sensory organ.
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As the population ages, the economic and societal impacts of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders are expected to rise sharply. Like dementia, late-life depressive disorders are common and are linked to increased disability, high healthcare utilisation, cognitive decline and premature mortality. Considerable heterogeneity in the clinical presentation of major depression across the life cycle may reflect unique pathophysiological pathways to illness; differentiating those with earlier onset who have grown older (early-onset depression), from those with illness onset after the age of 50 or 60 years (late-onset depression). The last two decades have witnessed significant advances in our understanding of the neurobiology of early- and late-onset depression, and has shown that disturbances of fronto-subcortical functioning are implicated. New biomedical models extend well beyond perturbations of traditional monoamine systems to include altered neurotrophins, endocrinologic and immunologic system dysfunction, inflammatory processes and gene expression alterations. This more recent research has highlighted that a range of illness-specific, neurodegenerative and vascular factors appear to contribute to the various phenotypic presentations. This review highlights the major features of late-life depression, with specific reference to its associated aetiological, clinical, cognitive, neuroimaging, neuropathological, inflammatory and genetic correlates. Data examining the efficacy of pharmacological, non-pharmacological and novel treatments for depression are discussed. Ultimately, future research must aim to evaluate whether basic biomedical knowledge can be successfully translated into enhanced health outcomes via the implementation of early intervention paradigms.