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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults: a small randomized controlled trial

Creswell JD, Irwin MR, Burklund LJ, Lieberman MD, Arevalo JM, Ma J, Breen EC, Cole SW. · Brain, behavior, and immunity · 2012 · Randomized pilot trial; single-blind (study assessors)

Original publication · Original publication · Original publication

Recorded summary

MBSR reduced loneliness and the NF-κB-associated inflammatory gene-expression profile relative to waitlist. The C-reactive protein difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.075).

Attributed extracts from the research record

“This work provides an initial indication that mindfulness based stress reduction may be a novel treatment approach for reducing loneliness and related pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults”

Recorded limitations

A small pilot without an active comparator. The molecular finding is a pathway-level expression profile.

Evidence and provenance

Chapter Trust Factor uses a minimum of three distinct qualifying studies. Publication records retain their own evidence and assessment.

Study design and assessment
design
Randomized pilot trial; single-blind (study assessors)
assessment
basis
The paper reports that blinded study staff collected post-treatment measures and blood samples.
sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/ · https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006

assessed At
2026-10-23
registered Masking Basis
false
category
single-blind-rct
peer Reviewed
true
trust Factor
score
2
scope
Paper
status
assessed
randomized Controlled Trial
true
blinding
single
peer Reviewed
true
basis
The paper reports that blinded study staff collected post-treatment measures and blood samples.
sources

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/ · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006

review Scope
Existing publication-specific assessments and bibliographic indexing; no blanket full-text appraisal.
assessed At
2026-10-27
jadad
status
unassessed
score
Not recorded
evidence
intervention
MBSR
comparator
Waitlist
sample
40 older adults
measurement
Circulating leukocyte RNA; inflammatory biomarkers
timing
8 weeks
trial Id
Not recorded
measured Genes
None recorded
pathways

NF-κB

evidence Type
RNA expression
source URLs

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/ · https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006

checked At
2026-10-23
review Scope
Publication abstract and selected full-text methods; Jadad assessment pending
Topics and recorded topic scores
  1. key
    language:ii
    title
    Meditation, mindfulness and related practices: gene expression and epigenetics
    collection
    language
    trust Score
    2
  2. key
    language:mindfulness-rna
    title
    Mindfulness interventions and gene expression
    collection
    language
    trust Score
    2
Citation snapshot and identifiers
id
pmid-22820409
doi
10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006
pmid
22820409
citation Snapshot
count
499
source
Crossref
retrieved At
2026-10-23
url
https://api.crossref.org/works/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006
citations By Collection
language
499
Complete approved library record
id
pmid-22820409
publication Key
Not recorded
aliases
None recorded
title
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults: a small randomized controlled trial
journal
Brain, behavior, and immunity
neurotransmitters
None recorded
year
2012
authors
Creswell JD, Irwin MR, Burklund LJ, Lieberman MD, Arevalo JM, Ma J, Breen EC, Cole SW.
design
Randomized pilot trial; single-blind (study assessors)
kind
Journal article
identity Conflict
Not recorded
doi
10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006
pmid
22820409
urls

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006 · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/

collections

language

categories

Gene expression

targets
None recorded
priority
0
quotes

“This work provides an initial indication that mindfulness based stress reduction may be a novel treatment approach for reducing loneliness and related pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults”

summary
MBSR reduced loneliness and the NF-κB-associated inflammatory gene-expression profile relative to waitlist. The C-reactive protein difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.075).
limitation
A small pilot without an active comparator. The molecular finding is a pathway-level expression profile.
citation Count
499
citation Snapshot
count
499
source
Crossref
retrieved At
2026-10-23
url
https://api.crossref.org/works/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006
study Design Assessment
basis
The paper reports that blinded study staff collected post-treatment measures and blood samples.
sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/ · https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006

assessed At
2026-10-23
registered Masking Basis
false
category
single-blind-rct
peer Reviewed
true
paper Trust Assessment
score
2
scope
Paper
status
assessed
randomized Controlled Trial
true
blinding
single
peer Reviewed
true
basis
The paper reports that blinded study staff collected post-treatment measures and blood samples.
sources

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/ · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006

review Scope
Existing publication-specific assessments and bibliographic indexing; no blanket full-text appraisal.
assessed At
2026-10-27
citations By Collection
language
499
topics
  1. key
    language:ii
    title
    Meditation, mindfulness and related practices: gene expression and epigenetics
    collection
    language
    trust Score
    2
  2. key
    language:mindfulness-rna
    title
    Mindfulness interventions and gene expression
    collection
    language
    trust Score
    2
journal Key
brainbehaviorandimmunity
journal Label
Brain, behavior, and immunity
chapter Entries
  1. id
    language-ii-pmid-22820409
    record Id
    pmid-22820409
    title
    Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults: a small randomized controlled trial
    journal
    Brain, behavior, and immunity
    year
    2012
    authors
    Creswell JD, Irwin MR, Burklund LJ, Lieberman MD, Arevalo JM, Ma J, Breen EC, Cole SW.
    design
    randomised controlled trial, single blind
    urls

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006 · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/

    quotes
      1. text
        “This work provides an initial indication that mindfulness based stress reduction may be a novel treatment approach for reducing loneliness and related pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults”
        emphasis
        false
    citation Count
    458
    source Pages

    12

    targets
    None recorded
    categories

    Gene expression · Molecular biomarkers

    doi
    10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006
    pmid
    22820409
    paper Trust Assessment
    score
    2
    scope
    Paper
    status
    assessed
    randomized Controlled Trial
    true
    blinding
    single
    peer Reviewed
    true
    basis
    The paper reports that blinded study staff collected post-treatment measures and blood samples.
    sources

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/ · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006

    review Scope
    Existing publication-specific assessments and bibliographic indexing; no blanket full-text appraisal.
    assessed At
    2026-10-27
    study Design Assessment
    basis
    The paper reports that blinded study staff collected post-treatment measures and blood samples.
    sources

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/ · https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006

    assessed At
    2026-10-23
    registered Masking Basis
    false
    category
    single-blind-rct
    peer Reviewed
    true
    collection
    language
    chapter Number
    1
    topic Id
    ii
    topic Title
    Meditation, mindfulness and related practices: gene expression and epigenetics
    trust Score
    2
    evidence
    intervention
    MBSR
    comparator
    Waitlist
    sample
    40 older adults
    measurement
    Circulating leukocyte RNA; inflammatory biomarkers
    timing
    8 weeks
    trial Id
    Not recorded
    measured Genes
    None recorded
    pathways

    NF-κB

    evidence Type
    RNA expression
    source URLs

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/ · https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006

    checked At
    2026-10-23
    review Scope
    Publication abstract and selected full-text methods; Jadad assessment pending
  2. id
    language-mindfulness-rna-pmid-22820409
    record Id
    pmid-22820409
    title
    Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults: a small randomized controlled trial
    journal
    Brain, behavior, and immunity
    year
    2012
    authors
    Creswell JD, Irwin MR, Burklund LJ, Lieberman MD, Arevalo JM, Ma J, Breen EC, Cole SW.
    design
    Randomized pilot trial; single-blind (study assessors)
    urls

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006 · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/

    quotes
    None recorded
    summary
    MBSR reduced loneliness and the NF-κB-associated inflammatory gene-expression profile relative to waitlist. The C-reactive protein difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.075).
    limitation
    A small pilot without an active comparator. The molecular finding is a pathway-level expression profile.
    citation Count
    499
    citation Snapshot
    count
    499
    source
    Crossref
    retrieved At
    2026-10-23
    url
    https://api.crossref.org/works/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006
    study Design Assessment
    basis
    The paper reports that blinded study staff collected post-treatment measures and blood samples.
    sources

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/ · https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006

    assessed At
    2026-10-23
    registered Masking Basis
    false
    category
    single-blind-rct
    peer Reviewed
    true
    source Pages
    None recorded
    targets
    None recorded
    categories

    Gene expression

    doi
    10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006
    pmid
    22820409
    evidence
    intervention
    MBSR
    comparator
    Waitlist
    sample
    40 older adults
    measurement
    Circulating leukocyte RNA; inflammatory biomarkers
    timing
    8 weeks
    trial Id
    Not recorded
    measured Genes
    None recorded
    pathways

    NF-κB

    evidence Type
    RNA expression
    source URLs

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/ · https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006

    checked At
    2026-10-23
    review Scope
    Publication abstract and selected full-text methods; Jadad assessment pending
    paper Trust Assessment
    score
    2
    scope
    Paper
    status
    assessed
    randomized Controlled Trial
    true
    blinding
    single
    peer Reviewed
    true
    basis
    The paper reports that blinded study staff collected post-treatment measures and blood samples.
    sources

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/ · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006

    review Scope
    Existing publication-specific assessments and bibliographic indexing; no blanket full-text appraisal.
    assessed At
    2026-10-27
    collection
    language
    chapter Number
    4
    topic Id
    mindfulness-rna
    topic Title
    Mindfulness interventions and gene expression
    trust Score
    2
evidence
intervention
MBSR
comparator
Waitlist
sample
40 older adults
measurement
Circulating leukocyte RNA; inflammatory biomarkers
timing
8 weeks
trial Id
Not recorded
measured Genes
None recorded
pathways

NF-κB

evidence Type
RNA expression
source URLs

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3635809/ · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22820409/ · https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2012.07.006

checked At
2026-10-23
review Scope
Publication abstract and selected full-text methods; Jadad assessment pending
jadad
status
unassessed
score
Not recorded
condition Evidence
None recorded
conditions
None recorded
topic Trust Scores

2

full Text
status
reuse-review
retrieval Available
false
url
https://pmc-oa-opendata.s3.amazonaws.com/PMC3635809.1/PMC3635809.1.xml?md5=8591f3493603ec95d6495af420460048
pmcid
PMC3635809
rights
license
TDM
use
Private text mining
public Fulltext Redistribution
false
provider Upload
false
model Training
false
basis
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/tools/pmcaws/
article Rights

© 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 2012 This file is available for text mining. It may also be used consistent with the principles of fair use under the copyright law.

sha256
c8ff5d5d2b6b322b6b925417348b967c67b6682e87de240cc2d704d89981bb4c
checked At
2026-10-24

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