Meditation and telomere length: a meta-analysis

Abstract

<b>Objective:</b> Telomeres are the caps at the end of chromosomes. Short telomeres are a biomarker for worsening health and early death.<br/><b>Design:</b> The present study consolidated research on meditation and telomere length through a meta-analysis of results of studies examining the effect of meditation on telomere length by comparing the telomere length of meditating participants with participants in control conditions.<br/><b>Results:</b> A search of the literature identified 11 studies reporting 12 comparisons of meditating individuals with individuals in control conditions. An overall significant weighted effect size of <i>g</i> =.40 indicated that the individuals in meditation conditions had longer telomeres. When an outlier effect size was trimmed from the analysis, the effect size was smaller, <i>g</i> =.16. Across studies, a greater number of hours of meditation among participants in meditation conditions was associated with larger effect sizes.<br/><b>Conclusion:</b> These findings provide tentative support for the hypothesis that participants in meditation conditions have longer telomeres than participants in comparison conditions, and that a greater number of hours of meditation is associated with a greater impact on telomere biology. The results of the meta-analysis have potential clinical significance in that they suggest that meditation-based interventions may prevent telomere attrition or increase telomere length.