PMID- 28694775 OWN - NLM STAT- PubMed-not-MEDLINE LR - 20230921 IS - 1662-5161 (Print) IS - 1662-5161 (Electronic) IS - 1662-5161 (Linking) VI - 11 DP - 2017 TI - Yoga, Meditation and Mind-Body Health: Increased BDNF, Cortisol Awakening Response, and Altered Inflammatory Marker Expression after a 3-Month Yoga and Meditation Retreat. PG - 315 LID - 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00315 [doi] LID - 315 AB - Thirty-eight individuals (mean age: 34.8 years old) participating in a 3-month yoga and meditation retreat were assessed before and after the intervention for psychometric measures, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), circadian salivary cortisol levels, and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Participation in the retreat was found to be associated with decreases in self-reported anxiety and depression as well as increases in mindfulness. As hypothesized, increases in the plasma levels of BDNF and increases in the magnitude of the cortisol awakening response (CAR) were also observed. The normalized change in BDNF levels was inversely correlated with BSI-18 anxiety scores at both the pre-retreat (r = 0.40, p < 0.05) and post-retreat (r = 0.52, p < 0.005) such that those with greater anxiety scores tended to exhibit smaller pre- to post-retreat increases in plasma BDNF levels. In line with a hypothesized decrease in inflammatory processes resulting from the yoga and meditation practices, we found that the plasma level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-10 was increased and the pro-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-12 was reduced after the retreat. Contrary to our initial hypotheses, plasma levels of other pro-inflammatory cytokines, including Interferon Gamma (IFN-gamma), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-alpha), Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Interleukin-8 (IL-8) were increased after the retreat. Given evidence from previous studies of the positive effects of meditative practices on mental fitness, autonomic homeostasis and inflammatory status, we hypothesize that these findings are related to the meditative practices throughout the retreat; however, some of the observed changes may also be related to other aspects of the retreat such as physical exercise-related components of the yoga practice and diet. We hypothesize that the patterns of change observed here reflect mind-body integration and well-being. The increased BDNF levels observed is a potential mediator between meditative practices and brain health, the increased CAR is likely a reflection of increased dynamic physiological arousal, and the relationship of the dual enhancement of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine changes to healthy immunologic functioning is discussed. FAU - Cahn, B Rael AU - Cahn BR AD - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA, United States. AD - Brain and Creativity Institute, University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA, United States. FAU - Goodman, Matthew S AU - Goodman MS AD - California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International UniversitySan Diego, CA, United States. FAU - Peterson, Christine T AU - Peterson CT AD - Center of Excellence for Research and Training in Integrative Health, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla, CA, United States. FAU - Maturi, Raj AU - Maturi R AD - Midwest Eye InstituteIndianapolis, IN, United States. AD - Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolis, IN, United States. FAU - Mills, Paul J AU - Mills PJ AD - Center of Excellence for Research and Training in Integrative Health, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla, CA, United States. AD - Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolis, IN, United States. LA - eng PT - Journal Article DEP - 20170626 PL - Switzerland TA - Front Hum Neurosci JT - Frontiers in human neuroscience JID - 101477954 EIN - Front Hum Neurosci. 2022 Apr 08;16:868021. PMID: 35463930 EIN - Front Hum Neurosci. 2023 Aug 30;17:1278043. PMID: 37711223 PMC - PMC5483482 OTO - NOTNLM OT - BDNF OT - cortisol OT - inflammation OT - inflammatory markers OT - meditation OT - stress OT - yoga COIS- This study received funding from co-author RM. RM has no financial relationship with Isha Yoga and had the following involvement with the study: Organized data collection, analyzed results. The corresponding BC and senior PM authors had full executive control over and ownership of the data, processing of biological samples, final analysis, and interpretation of results, as well as the write-up and decision to publish. PM is the Scientific Director of the Chopra Foundation. The Chopra Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to improving health and well-being partly through research on yoga and meditation and is connected with the Chopra Center that offers meditation and yoga courses. EDAT- 2017/07/12 06:00 MHDA- 2017/07/12 06:01 PMCR- 2017/01/01 CRDT- 2017/07/12 06:00 PHST- 2016/10/14 00:00 [received] PHST- 2017/06/01 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2017/07/12 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2017/07/12 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2017/07/12 06:01 [medline] PHST- 2017/01/01 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00315 [doi] PST - epublish SO - Front Hum Neurosci. 2017 Jun 26;11:315. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00315. eCollection 2017.