Health

Study: meditation may help patients feel less lonely

By WEEK Producer

Study: meditation may help patients feel less lonely

August 20, 2012 Updated Aug 20, 2012 at 10:05 AM CDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- A form of meditation may help ease feelings of loneliness.

Researchers at UCLA had 20 people between the ages of 55 and 85 practice "mindful meditation" for 8 weeks. Another 20 served as a control group and did not meditate.

The meditation group learned about being attentive to the here and now and not dwelling in the past or projecting about the future.

At the end of the study, the meditation group reported fewer bouts of loneliness.

Blood samples taken also show fewer markers of inflammation in the meditation group, a possible sign that the practice could be good for heart health.

This study is published online in the journal Brain, Behavior & Immunity.

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