Positive Health Online

Abstract

KALIMAN. 1 Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Av. Tibidabo, 39-43, 08035, Barcelona, Spain; Honorary Fellow, Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States. pkaliman@uoc.edu addresses the topics regarding whether meditation-based interventions can influence epigenetic changes modulate  gene expression.

Background

In the last decade, epigenetics has taken center stage to explain the relationships between stress exposure, health and behaviour.

Methodology

Acquired or inherited epigenetic changes modulate gene expression states without modifying the DNA sequence itself, they can be long-lasting, yet, they are potentially reversible.

Results

Several studies have explored whether meditation-based interventions can influence gene expression profiles towards healthier directions, identifying candidate genes and biological pathways that seem to be sensitive to contemplative practices. However, to date, the clinical implications of these molecular outcomes and their potential long-lasting epigenetic bases remain mostly unknown.

Conclusion

The present article addresses these topics from a broad perspective and analyses future research questions and perspectives at the crossroads of contemplative sciences and epigenetics. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

References

Perla Kaliman  1. Epigenetics and meditation. Curr Opin Psychol;28:76-80. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.11.010. Epub 2018 Nov 22. Aug 2019.