Decentering, Aortic Wave Reflection, and Arterial Stiffness

Abstract

Decentering, a mindfulness‐related quality, involves an individual’s inherent ability to recognize thoughts as simply psychological stimuli and accept a distant perspective. This includes understanding that thoughts and emotions are transient, rather than permanent associations of the individual. Previous studies have concluded that improvements in anxiety following an MBSR protocol were related to an increased ability to decenter. However, it is currently unknown how the ability to decenter might influence wave reflection and arterial stiffness. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if a higher ability to decenter would be associated with lower arterial stiffness. Twenty‐eight individuals (23±6 years) volunteered to participate in this study. All participants had a BMI less than 30 kg/m2, and reported no history of smoking, taking cardiovascular medication, or having diabetes. Subjects were instructed not to consume alcohol, caffeine, or exercise for 12 hours before, and to abstain from food three hours before testing. We performed applanation tonometry with a SphygmoCor system for pulse wave analysis (PWA) at the radial artery, and carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) at the respective arteries to estimate arterial stiffness. Participants also completed an 11‐item decentering questionnaire to objectify their ability to disconnect from their emotions. The Spielberger state‐trait anxiety inventory and the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) were also completed. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistical software for a median analysis on the ability to decenter, and for independent‐samples t‐tests. Means were considered significantly different when p<0.05. A higher ability to decenter was associated with a significantly lower aortic augmentation index (AIx, 8 ± 4 vs. −1 ± 3%, p<0.05), while cfPWV tended to be lower in those who scored higher on the decentering questionnaire (p=0.07). Our results in a small cross‐sectional sample indicate that the ability to decenter may be associated with lower cardiovascular risk factors such as AIx. Previous studies with very large sample sizes indicate that there is a moderate correlation between AIx and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Our preliminary results are promising in regard to how the ability to decenter may reduce cardiovascular risk. Support or Funding Information This project was partially supported by a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute award to John J. Durocher (1R15HL140596‐01).