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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06210035

Effects of Heart Rate Oscillations During Meditation on Plasma Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease

In the current study, we will examine how two types of concentration meditation practices affect plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). We will also examine the effects of the two types of meditation practices on emotional well-being and episodic memory. Healthy adults aged 18-35 who meet all eligibility criteria will be invited to this study. Participants will be asked to engage in one week of daily meditation practice or no-intervention control task at home. They will also be asked to visit the lab twice, once before and once after the intervention, to provide blood samples to assess plasma biomarkers of AD and to complete emotion questionnaires and a memory test.

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Key information

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Dementia Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurocognitive Disorders Neurodegenerative Diseases Tauopathies

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California, 90089, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Fluent in English
  • Aged between 18-35 years old
  • Agree to provide blood samples
  • Healthy adults who weigh at least 110 pounds
  • Agree to devote 40 minutes daily to this study for a week

Exclusion criteria

  • Have a disorder that would affect heart rhythm or function (e.g., abnormal cardiac rhythm, dyspnea, heart disease including coronary artery disease, angina and arrhythmia)
  • Regularly practicing any relaxation, meditation or yoga that involve breathing focused practices lasting for more than an hour each week

Treatment and study plan

Belly-focus meditation

Behavioral

Participants will engage in concentration meditation for 40 minutes every day for a week. They will focus on the sensations around the belly.

Belly-focus meditation with slow breathing

Behavioral

Participants will engage in concentration meditation and slow breathing for 40 minutes every day for a week. They will focus on the sensations around the belly while breathing slowly.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Plasma Amyloid Beta (Aβ) Levels

    Time frame: Measured from blood draws before and after a one-week intervention

    The investigators computed an aggregate Z-score based on plasma Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels (pg/mL). A Z-score of 0 represents the sample mean. Higher values indicate a greater level of plasma Aβ, which in cognitively normal individuals has been found to be associated with a higher risk of converting to Alzheimer's disease (Song et al., 2011). They conducted a 2 (time: pre, post) × 3 (condition) ANOVA to test for a time × condition interaction in plasma Aβ levels, assessing group differences in change over time.

  2. Change in Plasma Ab42/40 Ratio

    Time frame: Measured from blood draws before and after a one-week intervention

    The investigators conducted a 2 (time: pre, post) × 3 (condition) ANOVA to test for an interaction effect on plasma Ab42/40 ratios. The plasma Ab42/40 ratio was calculated by dividing the plasma Ab42 concentration (pg/ml) by the plasma Ab40 concentration (pg/ml). A higher plasma Ab42/40 ratio indicates better outcome (i.e., greater brain clearance).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Plasma pTau-181/Tau Ratio

    Time frame: Measured from blood draws before and after a one-week intervention

    The investigators conducted a 2 (time: pre, post) × 3 (condition) ANOVA to test for an interaction effect on plasma pTau-181/total Tau ratios. The plasma pTau-181/total Tau ratio was calculated by dividing the plasma pTau-181 concentration (pg/ml) by the plasma total Tau concentration (pg/ml). A higher plasma pTau-181/total Tau ratio indicates better outcome (i.e., greater brain clearance).

  2. Change in Emotional Well-being

    Time frame: Measured before and after a one-week intervention

    The investigators conducted a 2 (time: pre, post) × 3 (condition) ANOVA to test for an interaction effect on emotional well-being. Emotional well-being was assessed using the Profile of Mood States (POMS), which consists of 40 items rated on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 4 ("extremely"). Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) scores were calculated by summing the negative mood items and subtracting the sum of the positive mood items. A constant of 100 was added to the TMD score to eliminate negative values. Higher scores indicate more negative mood states, with possible scores ranging from 56 to 216.

Other outcomes

  1. Episodic Memory

    Time frame: Measured after a one-week intervention

    The investigators will conduct a one-way ANOVA to assess group differences in episodic memory.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Southern California

Other

Collaborators

  • University of California, Irvine

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jan 18, 2024
Registry last updated
Jan 5, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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