Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Intraocular Pressure, Lowers Stress Biomarkers and Modulates Gene Expression in Glaucoma: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether mindfulness-based stress reduction could lower intraocular pressure (IOP) and normalize stress biomarkers in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
Results Summary
Mindfulness meditation significantly reduced IOP, improved quality of life, lowered stress-related biomarkers (e.g., cortisol, IL6, TNF-α, ROS), and elevated beneficial biomarkers (e.g., β-endorphins, BDNF, TAC), with all changes statistically significant (P<0.001). Gene expression profiling also correlated positively with these changes.
Population
90 POAG patients (180 eyes) aged above 45 years.
Effective Dosage
Daily mindfulness meditation practice.
Duration
21 days.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based stress reduction by meditation | decrease | IOP | POAG patients | OD: 18.8 to 12.7, OS 19.0 to 13.1 mm Hg | significantly lowered | #1 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction by meditation | decrease | cortisol | POAG patients | 497.3 to 392.3 ng/mL | significantly lowered | #2 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction by meditation | decrease | IL6 | POAG patients | 2.8 to 1.5 ng/mL | significantly lowered | #3 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction by meditation | decrease | TNF-α | POAG patients | 57.1 to 45.4 pg/mL | significantly lowered | #4 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction by meditation | decrease | ROS | POAG patients | 1625 to 987 RLU/min/104 neutrophils | significantly lowered | #5 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction by meditation | increase | β-endorphins | POAG patients | 38.4 to 52.7 pg/mL | elevated | #6 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction by meditation | increase | BDNF | POAG patients | 56.1 to 83.9 ng/mL | elevated | #7 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction by meditation | increase | TAC | POAG patients | 5.9 to 9.3 | elevated | #8 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction by meditation | increase | QOL | POAG patients | - | improved | #9 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction by meditation | neutral | stress biomarkers | POAG patients | - | normalizes | #10 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction by meditation | neutral | gene expression | POAG patients | - | positively modifies | #11 |
BACKGROUND: Reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is currently the only approach to prevent further optic nerve head damage. However, other mechanisms such as ischemia, oxidative stress, glutamate excitotoxicity, neurotrophin loss, inflammation/glial activation, and vascular dysregulation are not addressed. Because stress is a key risk factor affecting these mechanisms, we evaluated whether mindfulness-based stress reduction can lower IOP and normalize typical stress biomarkers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective, randomized trial 90 POAG patients (180 eyes; age above 45 y) were assigned to a waitlist control or mindfulness meditation group which practiced daily for 21 days. We measured IOP (primary endpoint), quality of life (QOL), stress-related serum biomarkers [cortisol, β-endorphins, IL6, TNF-α, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC)], and whole genome expression. RESULTS: Between-group comparisons revealed significantly lowered IOP in meditators (OD: 18.8 to 12.7, OS 19.0 to 13.1 mm Hg) which correlated with significantly lowered stress-biomarker levels including cortisol (497.3 to 392.3 ng/mL), IL6 (2.8 to 1.5 ng/mL), TNF-α (57.1 to 45.4 pg/mL), ROS (1625 to 987 RLU/min/104 neutrophils), and elevated β-endorphins (38.4 to 52.7 pg/mL), BDNF (56.1 to 83.9 ng/mL), and TAC (5.9 to 9.3) (all P<0.001). These changes correlated well with gene expression profiling. Meditators improved in QOL (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A short course of mindfulness-based stress reduction by meditation in POAG, reduces IOP, improves QOL, normalizes stress biomarkers, and positively modifies gene expression. Mindfulness meditation can be recommended as adjunctive therapy for POAG.