Results of this study, published in the journal Lancet Oncology, showed, for the first time, that changing lifestyle significantly increases telomerase. Telomerase is the enzyme responsible for maintaining telomere length. Telomeres are the ends of chromosomes that influence how long we live. This is the first time that any intervention, even drugs, has been shown to significantly increase telomerase.

“Increased telomerase activity and comprehensive lifestyle changes: a pilot study.”
Lancet Oncology (PDF)

“Telomerase and the Benefits of Healthy Living”
Lancet Oncology (PDF)

Increase Telomeres, the ends of chromosomes that control cell aging

A pilot study, published in The Lancet Oncology, shows that comprehensive lifestyle changes may increase the length of telomeres, the ends of chromosomes that control cell aging. This is the first study to show that any intervention might lengthen telomeres over time. If the findings are confirmed by larger randomized controlled trials, scientists will begin to have a better understanding of how lifestyle changes may have the potential to reverse aging on a cellular level.

Lifestyle changes lengthen telomeres
Lancet Oncology (PDF)

In this study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, we found that over 500 genes were affected by lifestyle changes. In fact, certain disease preventing genes were up-regulated, or turned on, and certain disease promoting genes, including oncogenes involved in cancer, were down-regulated, or turned off. The results of this study suggest that comprehensive lifestyle changes may cause changes in gene expression that could be beneficial to the general population as well as to those with prostate cancer.

“Changes in prostate gene expression in men undergoing an intensive nutrition and lifestyle intervention.”
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS): www.pnas.org (PDF)

Slow, Stop, or Reverse the Progression of Early-Stage Prostate Cancer

We examined the effects of intensive lifestyle changes on men with early stage Prostate Cancer after 1 year. After 1 year, none of the men in the experimental group underwent conventional treatments compared to 6 in the control group. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) decreased 4% in the experimental group compared to a 6% increase in the control group, and prostate cancer cell growth was inhibited almost eight times as much in the experimental group compared to the control group. These results indicate that intensive lifestyle changes may effect the progression of early low grade prostate cancer.

“Intensive Lifestyle Changes May Effect the Progression of Prostate Cancer”
Journal of Urology (PDF)

“Changes in prostate gene expression in men undergoing an intensive nutrition and lifestyle intervention”
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PDF)

“Increased telomerase activity and comprehensive lifestyle changes: a pilot study”
Lancet Oncology (PDF)

“Relationship of Dietary Protein and Soy Isoflavones to Serum IGF-1 and IGF Binding Proteins in the Prostate Cancer Lifestyle Trial”
Nutrition and Cancer (PDF)

We examined the ability of patients enrolled in the Lifestyle Heart Trial to sustain intensive lifestyle changes for a total of five years and the effects of these lifestyle changes on coronary heart disease. We measured adherence to lifestyle changes, changes in coronary artery percent diameter stenosis, and cardiac events. Outcomes in the experimental group showed significant improvement relative to controls. Additionally, compared to 1 year follow up, 5 year follow ups showed greater improvement relative to controls.

“Intensive Lifestyle Changes for Reversal of Coronary Heart Disease”
Journal of the American Medical Association (PDF)

“Changes in Myocardial Perfusion Abnormalities by Positron Emission Tomography After Long-Term, Intense Risk Factor Modification”
Journal of the American Medical Association (PDF)

“Can Lifestyle Changes Reverse Coronary Heart Disease?”
The Lancet (PDF)

“Effects of Stress Management Training & Dietary Changes in Treating Ischemic Heart Disease”
Journal of the American Medical Association (PDF)

“Improved Stenosis Geometry by Quantitative Coronary Arteriography After Vigorous Risk Factor Modification”
American Journal of Cardiology (PDF)

“Statins and the Soul of Medicine”
American Journal of Cardiology (PDF)

“Improvement in Medical Risk Factors & Quality of Life in Women and Men With Coronary Artery Disease in the Multi-center Lifestyle Demonstration Trial”
American Journal of Cardiology (PDF)

“Long Term Effects of Lifestyle Changes on Well-Being and Cardiac Variables Among Coronary Heart Disease Patients”
Health Psychology (PDF)

“The Contribution of Changes in Diet, Exercise, and Stress Management in Coronary Risks in Women and Men in the Multisite Cardiac Lifestyle Intervention Program”
Annals of Behavioral Medicine (PDF)

“Lifestyle Changes and Clinical Profile in Heart Disease Patients with an Ejection Fraction of ≤40% or ≥ 40% in the Multi-center Lifestyle Demonstration Project”
The European Journal of Heart Failure (PDF)

“Effects of Pomegranate Juice Consumption on Myocardial Perfusion in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease”
American Journal of Cardiology (PDF)

“Angina Pectoris and Atherosclerotic Risk Factors in the Multisite Cardiac Lifestyle Intervention Program”
American Journal of Cardiology (PDF)

“Socioeconomic Status and Improvements in Lifestyle, Coronary Risk Factors, and Quality of life: The Multisite Cardiac Lifestyle Intervention Program”
American Journal of Public Health (PDF)

“Relation of B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Levels to Body Mass Index After Comprehensive Lifestyle Changes”
American Journal of Cardiology (PDF)

“Dean Ornish, MD: A Conversation With the Editor”
American Journal of Cardiology (PDF)

“Changes in Myocardial Perfusion Abnormalities by Positron Emission Tomography After Long-term, Intense Risk Factor Modification”
JAMA (PDF)

Patients with diabetes were able to follow the Ornish program and show the same improvements in coronary risk factors and quality of life as those without diabetes. Patients showed statistically significant decreases in their HgbA1c, and many were able to reduce their diabetes medication.

“Comparison of coronary risk factors and quality of life in coronary artery disease patients with versus without diabetes mellitus”
American Journal of Cardiology (PDF)

“The effectiveness and efficacy of an intensive cardiac rehabilitation program in 24 sites”
American Journal of Health Promotion (PDF)

Patients who participated in the 12 week Ornish program showed statistically significant improvements in their in their weight and their BMI, reporting an average 20 pound weight loss in 12 months

“Improvement in medical risk factors and quality of life in women and men with coronary artery disease in the Multi-center Lifestyle Demonstration Project”
American Journal of Cardiology (PDF)

Patients who participated in the 12 week Ornish program showed statistically significant improvements in their total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. In fact, patients lowered their LDL-cholesterol levels by an average of 40%.

“The effectiveness and efficacy of an intensive cardiac rehabilitation program in 24 sites”
American Journal of Health Promotion (PDF)

“A Very-Low-Fat Vegan Diet Increases Intake of Protective Dietary Factors and Decreases Intake of Pathogenic Dietary Factors”
The American Dietetic Association (PDF)

Patients who followed the Ornish program lowered their systolic and diastolic blood pressure after only 12 weeks, and many were able to decrease their blood pressure medication

“The effectiveness and efficacy of an intensive cardiac rehabilitation program in 24 sites”
American Journal of Health Promotion (PDF)

Our research showed that patients with depression and metabolic syndrome were able to make significant intensive diet and lifestyle changes. In fact, 73% of patients with depressive symptoms became non-depressed after only 12 weeks, with both men and women showing similar improvements in depression.

“Lifestyle changes are related to reductions in depression in persons with elevated coronary risk factors”
Psychology and Health (PDF)

“The effectiveness and efficacy of an intensive cardiac rehabilitation program in 24 sites”
American Journal of Health Promotion (PDF)

Optimize Outcomes & Cost-Savings

“Improvement in Medical Risk Factors and Quality of Life in Women and Men With Coronary Artery Disease in the Multi-center Lifestyle Demonstration Project”
American Journal of Cardiology (PDF)

We examined baseline and 3 month medical and psychosocial characteristics of women and men enrolled in the Multi-center Lifestyle Demonstration Project. Results showed significant improvements in diet, exercise and stress management, as well as improvements in medical and psychosocial characteristics. These improvements occured in spite of gender differences in medical, psychosocial and sociodemographic status. These results suggest that programs focusing on intensive lifestyle changes can be successfully implemented in diverse regions of the United States, and may be particularly helpful for women with heart disease, who generally have higher mortality and morbidity rates than men after a cardiac event.

“Avoiding Revascularization with Lifestyle Changes: The Multi-center Lifestyle Demonstration Project”
American Journal of Cardiology (PDF)

We examined the potential of intensive lifestyle changes as a direct alternative to revascularization procedures on patients enrolled in the Multi-center Lifestyle Demonstration Project. Results showed that patients in the experimental group were able to avoid revascularization for at least 3 years without increasing cardiac morbidity and mortality. These changes also came at a significantly lower cost than a revascularization procedure. These patients also reported experiencing reductions in angina similar to what was reported after a revascularization.

“The Effectiveness and Efficacy of an Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in 24 Sites”
American Journal of Health Promotion (PDF)

In conclusion, we have evaluated the Ornish program from a variety of different approaches with very similar conclusion. That is, the evidence to date supports the presumption that comprehensive lifestyle changes for the treatment of CAD save money, as well as improve the clinical status of the patient.

“Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease Cost Effectiveness Summary”
Highmark (PDF)

July 21st, 2014
CardioBuzz: Vegan Diet, Healthy Heart?

October 1rst, 2016
10-Year Outcomes after Monitoring, Surgery, or Radiotherapy for Localized Prostate Cancer.

February, 2012
The New England Journal of Medicine
Initial coronary stent implantation with medical therapy vs medical therapy alone for stable coronary artery disease: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

March/April 2013
Harvard Magazine
A Cardiac Conundrum

April 1, 2010
The New England Journal of Medicine
Effect of nateglinide on the incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular events.

March 2010
The New England Journal of Medicine
Long-term effects of intensive glucose lowering on cardiovascular outcomes.

November 13, 2016
The New England Journal of Medicine
Genetic Risk, Adherence to a Healthy Lifestyle, and Coronary Disease

November 14, 2016
American Heart Association
Mostly meat, high protein diet linked to heart failure in older women

August 24th, 2015
The New York Times
Obesity Is Linked to at Least 13 Types of Cancer

February 1rst, 2016
The New York Times
How Meditation Changes the Brain and Body

September 20th, 2016
Huffington Post
Saturated Fat Remains The Major Issue For Heart Disease

September , 2016
The New York Times
Researchers Confront an Epidemic of Loneliness