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In the news: Lowering IOP with Relaxation; Daily Multi Helps Preserve Cognitive Health

Relaxation Methods Lower IOP in Glaucoma

EduFacts has previously featured a small trial(1) showing that in glaucoma patients, mindfulness meditation significantly lowers intraocular pressure (IOP) while upregulating neuroprotective genes and downregulating pro-inflammatory genes. (SBH.com, Vol. 24).

A newly published systematic review and meta-analysis(2) now reports that various relaxation techniques may significantly reduce IOP – findings that suggest these techniques may be beneficial as an adjunctive treatment for glaucoma patients.

Twelve articles (596 subjects) were included for qualitative analysis and 5 articles (332 subjects) for quantitative analysis. The findings show that:

a) meditation consistently caused long-term reductions in IOP, even after practicing for only 3 weeks. b) Autogenic relaxation exercises showed a trend toward reducing IOP acutely and a significant reduction in the long-term. c) Ocular relaxation exercises combined with visual imagery of aqueous humour drainage showed both acute and long-term reductions in IOP. d) yoga ocular exercises were associated with long-term reductions in IOP. (Note, however, that the effects of yoga on IOP seem to depend on the positions being practiced. Yoga exercises with a head-down position may cause an increase in IOP).

Percentage reduction in IOP with the various techniques were as follows:

a) 31.8% from baseline occurred at 3 weeks after mindful meditation. b) 22% at 6 weeks after yoga ocular exercises, c) 15.3% at 16 weeks after autogenic relaxation exercises, ocular relaxation exercises, and visual imagination of aqueous humour drainage.

Mindful meditation programs are increasingly offered at colleges, in various medical settings, and online, making this technique relatively easy to find and access by interested patients.

Daily Multi Again Shows Slower Cognitive Aging

A second COSMOS(3) (Cocoa Supplement and Multi-vitamins Outcome Study) trial has shown a benefit of a daily multi-vitamin/mineral (multi) on memory and cognition

The earlier COSMOS-Mind trial, a collaboration of Harvard Medical School and Wake Forest researchers, reported that daily use of a multi was associated with improved memory and slower cognitive decline in older individuals compared to those assigned to placebo. (SBH.com, Vol. 25). The multi group had a 60% slowing of global cognitive aging vs. placebo in this study funded by the National Institute on Aging and published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia in Sept, 2022.

The current and second major COSMOS study, this time a collaboration of Harvard and Columbia University, included 3500 participants 60 or older and looked at performance on a novel web-based assessment of memory and cognition annually over three years.

The multi group did significantly better than the placebo group on memory tests and word recall, a finding that was estimated as the equivalent of slowing age-related memory loss by about 3 years. The benefit was first seen at 1 year and was sustained across the 3 years.

Dr. JoAnn Manson, a co-author of COSMOS points out that poor status of various nutrients important for brain health such as vitamin B12, thiamin, other B vitamins, lutein, magnesium and zinc may accelerate cognitive decline. “Overall, the finding that a daily multivitamin improved memory and slowed cognitive decline in two separate COSMOS randomized trials is exciting” commented Dr. Manson.

References

1. Dada T, et al. Effect of mindfulness meditation on intraocular pressure and trabecular meshwork gene expression: A randomized controlled trial. Am J Ophthalmol. 223:308-21, 2021.
2. Zaher O, et al. Effect of various relaxation techniques on intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Can J Ophthalmol. Online ahead of print, June 24, 2023.
3. Yeung LK, et al. Multivitamin supplementation improves memory in older adults: A randomized clinical trial. AJCN 118:273-282, July 2023.