SAT Reading - Khan Diagnostic Quiz level 4 - reading 5

Over the last two decades, mind-body therapies (MBTs),

including Tai Chi, Qi Gong, meditation, and Yoga have

received increasing awareness and attention from the
_Line scientific community seeking to understand the safety and
₅ efficacy of these widely used practices. According to the

2007 National Health Interview Survey, 19% of American

adults have used at least one mind-body therapy in the past

12 months. Currently, the National Center for

Complementary and Alternative Medicine designates MBTs
₁₀ as a top research priority.
Previous work has shown that MBTs offer many

psychological and health functioning benefits including

reductions in disease symptoms, improvements in coping,

behavior regulation, quality of life, and well-being. In light
₁₅ of these benefits, recent investigations have sought to better

understand the role of MBTs on physiological pathways such

as the immune system. It has been well-established that

psychological stress and depression impair anti-viral immune

responses and activate innate immunity or markers of
₂₀ inflammation via effector pathways, such as the sympathetic

nervous system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal

(HPA) axis. In fact, behavioral interventions targeted at

alleviating stress, promoting heightened states of relaxation,

and encouraging moderate physical activity, have been
₂₅ shown to bolster anti-viral immune responses and decrease

markers of inflammation, particularly among older adults or

adults experiencing high levels of psychological stress.
The efficacy of such behavioral interventions in

modulating the immune system suggests that MBTs may also
₃₀ confer immunomodulatory benefits. Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and

Yoga are multi-dimensional behavioral therapies that

integrate moderate physical activity, deep breathing, and

meditation to promote stress reduction and relaxation, which

could potentially influence the immune system. Meditation,
₃₅ including more integrative, mindfulness-based stress-

reduction programs, has also been shown to regulate

emotional and affective responses to stress, and therefore

may influence the immune system even in the absence of

physical activity.
₄₀ To our knowledge, this study is the first comprehensive

review of the best available evidence, summarizing the

effects of MBTs on the immune system while focusing on

two aspects of immunity that are regulated by stress response

mechanisms, namely inflammation and anti-viral related
₄₅ immune responses...Indeed, evidence accrued from 34

randomly controlled trials (RCTs) indicates that Tai Chi, Qi

Gong, meditation, and Yoga, both short- and long-term,

appear to reduce markers of inflammation and influence

virus-specific immune responses to vaccinations. Our
₅₀ findings are supported by existing literature evaluating the
immunomodulatory effects of other types of behavioral

interventions including exercise, stress reduction, and mood

modifying approaches. For example, exercise, one of the

most widely-studied behavioral interventions, has been
₅₅ shown to reduce chronic inflammation, enhance

immunological memory in the context of vaccination, and

even reduce sick days associated with the common cold and

other upper respiratory tract infections.
Apparently, powerful links exist between the brain and the
₆₀ immune system, and psychosocial factors can directly

influence health through behavior. MBTs may buffer these

immune alterations through relaxation, stress reduction,

improved mood, and moderate physical activity. Behavioral

responses are therefore the key to activating neuroendocrine
₆₅ and autonomic pathways, which in turn modulate the

immune system and have implications for susceptibility to a

variety of diseases. Thus, behavioral interventions that alter

immune responses provide _potent_ evidence for

psychological influences on immune function.