Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on inflammaging: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 40679650 · doi:10.1007/s10522-025-10287-y
What was done
A systematic review and meta-analysis searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses through March 2024 for English-language studies evaluating mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in adults aged 18 and older. Both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and uncontrolled pre-post trials reporting inflammaging-related biomarkers (IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, telomerase activity [TA], telomere length [TL], pulse wave velocity [PWV], and flow-mediated dilation [FMD]) were included. Standardized mean differences were calculated using Morris's d_ppc for RCTs and Cohen's d for pre-post designs.
What was found
Based on 89 included studies, RCTs demonstrated that MBIs significantly reduced TNF-α (d_ppc = -0.40), IL-6 (d_ppc = -0.70), CRP (d_ppc = -0.48), and PWV (d_ppc = -0.30), while increasing FMD (d_ppc = 0.24), TL (d_ppc = 0.43), and TA (d_ppc = 0.84). Uncontrolled pre-post trials similarly showed decreases in TNF-α (d_ppc = -0.17), IL-6 (d = -0.33), and CRP (d = -0.33). Moderator analyses found non-mainstream mindfulness practices were more effective for reducing IL-6 and CRP, and MBIs were especially effective for lowering TNF-α in clinical populations.
Why it matters
This synthesis demonstrates that mindfulness practices are associated with favorable changes in cellular aging and vascular health markers, extending evidence beyond subjective stress reduction to biological indicators of inflammaging.
Limits
The review combines RCTs with lower-quality uncontrolled pre-post trials. The abstract does not provide confidence intervals, total participant count (N), intervention duration, specific control conditions, or long-term clinical outcome data.
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