The Claim

In adults with chronic stroke, 12 weeks of mindfulness-based stress reduction combined with computerized cognitive training results in stabilized plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, whereas plasma VEGF levels decline in adults with chronic stroke receiving computerized cognitive training alone or with physical exercise.

Source: Effects of Mindfulness and Exercise on Growth Factors, Inflammation, and Stress Markers in Chronic Stroke: The MindFit Project Randomized Clinical Trial

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
75score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In adults with chronic stroke, a 12-week program combining mindfulness and computer-based cognitive training maintains stable levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in the blood, while similar training without mindfulness, or with physical exercise, leads to a decrease in this protein.

See the scientific wording

In adults with chronic stroke, 12 weeks of mindfulness-based stress reduction combined with computerized cognitive training stabilizes plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, while VEGF declines in those receiving computerized cognitive training alone or with physical exercise, suggesting mindfulness may counteract stress-related vascular dysregulation in this population.

Why this might work

When a person practices mindfulness, it calms the stress response system in the brain, which lowers the amount of stress hormone released into the blood. This reduction in stress hormone prevents damage to blood vessel lining, allowing a key signaling molecule called nitric oxide to remain active. Nitric oxide keeps another molecule, VEGF, from breaking down, so blood vessel repair signals stay steady.

Supported mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: Effects of Mindfulness and Exercise on Growth Factors, Inflammation, and Stress Markers in Chronic Stroke: The MindFit Project Randomized Clinical Trial

    In people who had a stroke more than a year ago, doing 12 weeks of mindfulness and computer brain training helped keep a helpful blood vessel protein (VEGF) at steady levels, while those who only did brain training or added exercise saw the protein drop. This suggests mindfulness might help protect blood vessels after stroke.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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