Meditation and stress reduction

stress neuroendocrineinflammation redox

Not a regulated product. No approval pathway exists for this intervention in any market, and none is required to practise it.

7 randomized trials (592 people, 5 days-8 weeks). 6 improved their main endpoint, a measure of physical or cognitive function; 1 found no effect. 4 trials reported no pre-planned main endpoint. 2 other trials gave a different intervention (Short humour; Thai foot massage) and are shown for context, not counted.

Doses studied: 2 h per week; 2 mA; 2.5 h per week; 20 min intermittent.

Evidence map

each mark is a study; size shows participants; hover, tap or focus for details

main endpoints improvedno effectworsenedmixedobservationalanother intervention, contextsize not reported

Higher rows are closer to a person taking this. A case that rests only on the lower rows rests on animals or cells.

What each study measured

outlined square: the main (primary) endpoint

Harms reported

human studies

Where it is available

by regulator; select a market for its source

If you are tracking this yourself

measures the human studies used, by how repeatable they are

Repeatability is whether the same person measured twice gets the same number. It is not statistical significance. It informs study or protocol design only, never advice for a person.

What would change this picture

each study's own statement

Trials under way

Every study (14)

T7 Park 2026 A randomized trial of a digitally delivered, home-based neuromodulation and mindfulness intervention for pain management in older adults with knee osteoarthritis doi:10.1038/s41746-026-02577-7
T7 Phansikar 2026 Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Versus Lifestyle Education for Fluid and Driving-Related Cognition in Older Adults: Results from the Healthy Agers Randomized Controlled Trial doi:10.1007/s12671-026-02970-z
T7 Hähnel 2025 Meditation training and non-native language training both reduce older adults loneliness in the age-well randomized controlled trial doi:10.1038/s41598-025-21058-7
T7 Fiocco 2018 Exploring the Benefits of Mindfulness Training in Healthy Community-Dwelling Older Adults: a Randomized Controlled Study Using a Mixed Methods Approach doi:10.1007/s12671-018-1041-x
T7 Anālayo 2022 Effects of Mindful Practices on Terror of Mortality: A Randomized Controlled Trial doi:10.1007/s12671-022-01967-8
T7 Whitmoyer 2019 Mindfulness Training and Attentional Control in Older Adults: a Randomized Controlled Trial doi:10.1007/s12671-019-01218-3
T7 Sui 2023 Effects of a Social Media-Based Mind-Body Intervention Embedded With Acupressure and Mindfulness for Stress Reduction Among Family Caregivers of Frail Older Adults: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial doi:10.2196/42861
T7 Kim 2026 Immediate Changes in Physical Function, Psychological Health, and Health-Related Quality of Life Following a Five-Day Multicomponent Coastal Health Program in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial doi:10.3390/jcm15155926
T7 Polsinelli 2020 Effects of a Brief, Online, Focused Attention Mindfulness Training on Cognition in Older Adults: a Randomized Controlled Trial doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01329-2
T7 Ford 2024 Four weeks of meditation training improves sustained attention in community-dwelling older adults: a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial doi:10.3389/fragi.2024.1322705
T7 Thadanatthaphak 2024 Immediate effects of Thai foot massage on renal blood flow and heart rate variability in older adults doi:10.12688/f1000research.148453.1
T7 Yamakoshi 2024 The effects of laughter on attention focusing and psychological stress in healthy older adults: a single-blind, randomized controlled trial using a comic video intervention doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-4598246/v1
T6 Brown 2015 A pilot randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction for caregivers of family members with dementia doi:10.1080/13607863.2015.1065790
T5 Kivimäki 2002 Work stress and risk of cardiovascular mortality: prospective cohort study of industrial employees doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7369.857