In the news: Relaxation Helps Lower Eye Pressure; Daily Multi Slows Memory Decline

Relaxation techniques Help Lower IOP in Glaucoma

Eye pressure – also called intraocular pressure or IOP – is a measurement of the fluid pressure inside the eye. A higher IOP is a feature of many of the most common types of glaucoma, and lowering elevated IOP is an important treatment goal.

A newly published systematic review(1) reports that various relaxation techniques may help reduce IOP – findings that suggest these techniques may be beneficial along with standard medical treatment for glaucoma patients.

Previous trials had looked at the effect on IOP of various relaxation methods including mindful meditation, ocular relaxation exercises, yoga ocular exercises and autogenic relaxation, a self-relaxation technique that involves silently repeating one or more statements intended to produce relaxation and emotional calm.

In analyzing the trials, the researchers found that mindfulness meditation consistently resulted in long-term reductions in IOP. About a 32% decrease in IOP was seen at 3 weeks after participating in mindful meditation in the best trial evaluating that relaxation method.

Autogenic relaxation exercises showed a trend toward reducing IOP in the short term and a significant reduction in the long-term.

Ocular relaxation exercises combined with visualizing aqueous humour drainage showed both rapid and long-term reductions in IOP. (The continuous production of the eye’s fluid, called the aqueous humor, and its drainage helps maintain normal IOP). Both the autogenic relaxation and the ocular relaxation exercises were associated with about a 15% IOP reduction at 16 weeks

Yoga ocular exercises were associated with long-term reductions in IOP – about a 22% lower IOP at 6 weeks. 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.

If you are interested in trying any of these techniques, it’s best to talk with your eye care professional to see what method might be best for you, and whether resources for learning / practicing these techniques are available in your area.

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

Daily Multi Again Shows Slower Cognitive Aging

The COSMOS-Mind trial (“Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study”) is a large study designed to look at the effects of cocoa flavonoids and a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement (multi) on cognitive health. It’s a collaboration of Harvard Medical School and Wake Forest researchers and is funded by the National Institute for Aging.

In 2022, the 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(2). The multi group had a 60% slowing of global cognitive aging vs. placebo.

Now, results from a second COSMOS study(3), this time a collaboration of Harvard and Columbia, has been published. The study included 3500 participants 60 or older and looked at performance on a web-based assessment of memory and cognition annually.

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 of the study.

References

1. 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.
2. Baker LD, et al. Effects of cocoa extract and a multi-vitamin on cognitive function: A randomized clinical trial. Alz Dement.19:1308-19, 2023 (1st pub Sept. 2022)
3. Yeung LK, et al. Multivitamin supplementation improves memory in older adults: A randomized clinical trial. AJCN 118:273-282, July 2023.