Brain Age and Sleep Architecture in Meditators

NCT05513846 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2022P000597
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 108
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This is a single-center, cross-sectional study that will recruit approximately fifty seven (57) meditators and fifty one (51) controls. Individuals that have learned at least the Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya practice and live in Massachusetts will be mailed a DREEM EEG device, and a sleepimage ring. Participants will be asked to wear the two devices while sleeping for three consecutive weekday nights (Sunday night to Thursday night) and two weekend nights (Friday and Saturday nights). While meditating during the day, participants will only wear the DREEM EEG headband. Participants will also undergo neurocognitive tests from the NIH toolbox during one virtual visit via video call. Meditators who join the study will be asked to invite a control subject to the study, matched for age and comorbidities.

Conditions

Brain Age

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Brain Age

  Brain Age will be calculated using an algorithm from the sleeping EEG. A Brain Age index score will be created for each participant based on an aggregate of the five days of sleeping EEG data. The Brain Age Index is the brain age calculated from the algorithm subtracted by the chronological age of the participant.

  Measured for 3 weekday and 3 weekend nights during the data collection period

Study Arms (2)

Meditation

This is the group that will have learned at least Shamhbavi Mahamudra Kriya before they are enrolled in the study.

Device: DREEM EEG Device; Device: SleepImage Ring

Control

This is the group that will not have learned Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya before they are enrolled in the study. They will be invited to the study by the Meditation group.

Device: DREEM EEG Device; Device: SleepImage Ring

Interventions

DREEM EEG Device DEVICE

The DREEM EEG device will be used to measure brain age.

Control; Meditation

SleepImage Ring DEVICE

The SleepImage ring uses plethysmography to analyze sleep architecture and cardiopulmonary coupling.

Control; Meditation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Subjects will not be recruited based on race, ethnicity, or gender. However, it is not clear whether the final study sample will contain a representative spread of the racial and gender makeup.

You may qualify if:

• Previous experience with learning Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya
• Age 18 years or older.
• Lives in the United States barring California
• Age 18 years or older
• Lives in the United States barring California

You may not qualify if:

• Non-English Speaking
• Night Shift workers

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center: lead

Study Sites (1)

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 22, 2022
• First Posted: August 24, 2022
• Study Start: November 10, 2022
• Primary Completion: July 4, 2025
• Study Completion: December 31, 2025
• Last Updated: January 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)