Stress and Immunity: Age Enhances the Risks |
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| Authors: | Janice K Kiecolt-Glaser & Ronald Glaser |
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| Institution: | Department of Psychiatry and the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research (College of Medicine), Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio,;Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, and the Comprehensive Cancer Center (College of Medicine), Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio |
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| Abstract: | A competent immune response is central to good health. There is good evidence that both aging and psychological stress can dysregulate immune function, resulting in changes in various aspects of the immune response that are large enough to have consequences for health. Older adults appear to show even greater immunological impairments associated with stress or depression than younger adults. Thus, the data suggest that aging interacts with stress and depression to enhance risks for morbidity and mortality among older adults. |
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| Keywords: | stress immune function aging social support |
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