As we reflect upon 2023, we are filled with gratitude for your commitment to our shared mission: advancing the understanding of the biological and physiological impacts of meditation on the human body. This year is highlighted by remarkable strides in research, with groundbreaking studies shedding light on the profound ways in which meditation empowers individuals to heal and thrive. Your generous contributions have fueled numerous projects, allowing us to explore meditation and its effects on overall well-being. With this report, we celebrate not only the scientific achievements but also our incredible Catalyst Community!
“The heart and the brraaaainnnn…”
This phrase you hear at events during meditations may be the key to understanding how the mind can change the body and how the heart can influence the mind.
My graduate studies at the Medical College of Wisconsin (from January 1999-May 2022) focused on stress adaptation in the heart. In the mid-1980s it was discovered that small amounts of stress protected the heart from a subsequent stress that was more lethal and toxic [1]. This concept, known as preconditioning, involves activating endogenous systems regulating kinases and protein modulators in the acute phase and altered gene response in a delayed phase. This process is also universal and can be coaxed in virtually all organs.
As a kid I struggled with various health challenges, especially gut issues, allergies, and headaches. I tried Western medicine with little results. Eventually I started researching on my own and tried all sorts of diets to improve my health, and I learned about the concept of epigenetics, which meant to me that I might actually be able to overcome these issues by modifying something in my life, and I thought it was all about diet. I became obsessed with diets and food for several years and struggled because this is only a part of the picture.
As we move into the final quarter of the year, it is a time to reflect on three very important things: the happenings over the past year, where we currently stand on the research, and what we have to look forward to immediately…Orlando is just around the corner as I write this! As always, our team at UC San Diego is so grateful for your support. We could not have done the immense amount of data analysis this past year without you! With your continued support, we can boldly look ahead to transform the role of meditation in healthcare and for our future research to develop deep insights into the mind-body connection.
The paper details our research teams’ isolation and identification of SERPINA5, a protein that inhibits a SARS-CoV-2 pseudo-virus containing a spike protein from entering the cell. It also demonstrates that meditation not only elevates levels of SERPINA5 in the blood, but the more experienced you are as a meditator and the more you practice, the more protection you have against the virus.
