Effects of Meditation Compared to Music Listening on Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Survivors With Cognitive Complaints: Secondary Outcomes of a Pilot Randomized Control Trial

Journal

Explore (NY)

Year

2022

Abstract

CONTEXT: We previously reported positive behavioral effects of both daily mantra meditation and classical music listening interventions in breast cancer survivors with cancer related cognitive complaints. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this pilot study was to compare the effects of the meditation intervention to a music listening intervention on biomarkers of inflammation and cellular aging (secondary outcomes) in breast cancer survivors. DESIGN: Randomized control trial, baseline data collection (time 1), post intervention data collection (time 2) SETTING: Community-based, Central Texas PARTICIPANTS: 25 breast cancer survivors (BCS) who were 3 months to 6 years post chemotherapy completion and reported cognitive changes. INTERVENTION(S): Kirtan Kriya meditation (KK) or classical music listening (ML), 8 weeks, 12 min a day MAIN OUTCOME: Telomerase activity [TA], c-reactive protein [CRP], soluble IL-2 receptor alpha [sIL-2Rα], soluble IL-4 receptor [sIL-4R], soluble IL-6 receptor [sIL-6R], soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II [sTNF-RII], VEGF receptor 2 [sVEGF-R2], and VEGF receptor 3 [sVEGF-R3] RESULTS: Repeated measures analysis of variance models were analyzed from time 1 to time 2 by group for each biomarker. A pattern of greater telomerase activity across time in both groups (F (1,15) = 3.98, p = .06, ω(2) = 0.04); significant decreases in sIL-4R across time for both groups (F (1,22) = 6.28, p = .02, ω(2) = .003); group*time effect was nominally different but not statistically different for sIL-4R (F(1,22) = 3.82, p = .06, ω(2) = .001); and a pattern for a group*time effect with ML group showing higher levels of sVEGF-R3 at time 2 (F (1,20) = 2.59, p = .12, ω(2) = .009). No significant effects were found for CRP, sIL-2Rα, sIL-6R, sTNF-RII, or sVEGF-R2.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Breast Cancer; Cancer; Chemotherapy; Music and Cognition; Music Listening; Receptive Music Methods

Indexed Terms

Cognition; Intervention; Biomarkers; Pilot Projects; C-Reactive Protein; Inflammation; Meditation; Breast Neoplasms; Cancer Survivors; Telomerase; Breast cancer survivors; Cancer related cognitive impairments; Cognitive complaints; Interleukin 4 receptor; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; Telomerase activity; VEGF receptor

Study Type

Randomized Controlled Trial; Quantitative Methods

PubMed ID

PMCID: PMC9085959

Document Type

Article

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