New research reveals how meditation improves our health
New research reveals how meditation improves our health
Anonim

Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University have confirmed the beneficial effects of mindfulness meditation on the human body in cases of cancer, depression, PTSD, HIV infection and aging.

New research reveals how meditation improves our health
New research reveals how meditation improves our health

The positive impact of mindfulness meditation on human health has long been considered, rather, mysticism. However, at the end of January in the journal Biological Psychiatry there was data that confirmed this miraculous effect from a neuroscience perspective.

Many people are skeptical about the benefits of mindfulness meditation. We quantitatively measured its effects on the human brain and demonstrated that mindfulness meditation can improve health.

David Creswell is a specialist in psychology, psychoneuroimmunology and social neurosciences

It appears that reducing inflammation through the effects of mindfulness meditation on brain connections is key.

Chronic inflammation is a prolonged, out-of-control protective activity of the immune system that occurs even in the absence of infection or damage. It is at the root of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's, and even depression.

Our research sheds light on how mindfulness meditation affects the brain and inflammation.

David Creswell

The study involved 35 non-working adults. Half of them practiced mindfulness meditation for three days, and the rest simply took rest. This was followed by a brain scan of each of them. Subjects also donated blood for biomarkers of inflammation before the study and four months after it.

How meditation improves health
How meditation improves health

Brain scans showed that mindfulness meditation improved communication between the regions of the brain responsible for relaxed thought wandering and high concentration. Usually these areas don't work together. But their connection helps the body to better deal with stress, which triggers inflammation. Blood tests also confirmed that the level of inflammation in those who meditated was lower.

Scientists explain this difference in the effect of simple rest and mindfulness meditation by a longer effect of the latter.

Unlike regular rest, which is aimed at relaxing the body, but does little to help in everyday stressful situations, mindfulness meditation teaches you how to be more open and attentive to your impressions, even if negative ones.

David Creswell

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