Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Stress, Age, and Immune Function: Toward a Lifespan Approach

  • Published:
Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Both aging processes and psychological stress affect the immune system: Each can dysregulate immune function with a potentially substantial impact on physical health. Worse, the effects of stress and age are interactive. Psychological stress can both mimic and exacerbate the effects of aging, with older adults often showing greater immunological impairment to stress than younger adults. In addition, stressful experiences very early in life can alter the responsiveness of the nervous system and immune system. We review the unique impact of aging and stress on immune function, followed by evidence of interactions between age and stress. Further, we suggest that prenatal or early life stress may increase the likelihood of maladaptive immune responses to stress in late life. An understanding of the interactive effects of stress and age is critical to efforts to determine underlying mechanisms, clarify the directionality of effects, and develop effective interventions in early and late life.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Ballou, S. P., Lozanski, F. B., Hodder, S., Rzewnicki, D. L., Mion, L. C., Sipe, J. D., Ford, A. B., and Kushner, I. (1996). Quantitative and qualitative alterations of acute-phase proteins in healthy elderly persons. Age Ageing 25: 224–230.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ballow, M., Cates, K. L., Rowe, J. C., Goetz, C., and Desbonnet, C. (1986). Development of the immune system in very low birth weight (less than 1500g) premature infants: Concentrations of plasma immunoglobulins and patterns of infection. Pediatr. Res. 20: 899–904.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barker, D. J. P. (1998). In utero programming of chronic disease. Clinical Science 95: 115–128.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berczi, I. (1998). The stress concept and neuroimmunoregulation in modern biology. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 851: 3–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Black, P. H. (2003). The inflammatory response is an integral part of the stress response: Implications for atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome X. Brain. Behav. Immun. 17: 350–364.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bodnar, J., and Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (1994). Caregiver depression after bereavement: Chronic stress isn't over when it's over. Psychol Aging 9: 372–380.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burns, E. A., and Goodwin, J. S. (1990). Immunology and infectious disease. In Cassel, C. K., Riesenberg, D. E., and Sorensen, L. B. (Eds.), Geriatric Med., Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 312–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns, E. A., and Goodwin, J. S. (1997). Immunodeficiency of aging. Drugs Aging 11: 374–397.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Capitanio, J. P., and Lerche, N. W. (1991). Psychosocial factors and disease progression in simian AIDS: A preliminary report. AIDS 5: 1103–1106.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carrion, V. G., Weems, C. F., Ray, R. D., Glaser, B., Hessl, D., and Reiss, A. L. (2002). Diurnal salivary cortisol in pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder. Biol. Psychiatry 51: 575–582.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Castle, S. C. (2000). Clinical relevance of age-related immune dysfunction. Clinical Infectious Diseases 31: 578–585.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cesari, M., Penninx, B. W. J. H., Pahor, M., Lauretani, F., Corsi, A. M., Williams, G. R., Guralnik, J. M., and Ferrucci, L. (2004). Inflammatory markers and physical performance in older persons: The InCHIANTI Study. J. Gerontol. 59A: 242–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coe, C. L., and Crispen, H. R. (2000). Social stress in pregnant monkeys differentially affects placental transfer of maternal antibody to male and female infants. Health Psychol. 19: 1–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coe, C. L., Kramer, M. S., Kirschbaum, C., Netter, P., and Fuchs, E. (2002). Prenatal stress diminishes the cytokine response of leukocytes to endotoxin stimulation in juvenile rhesus monkeys. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 87: 675–681.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coe, C. L., and Lubach, G. R. (2005). Prenatal origins of individual variation in behavior and immunity. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 29: 39–49.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coe, C. L., Lubach, G. R., Schneider, M. L., Dierschker, D. J., and Ershler, W. B. (1992). Early rearing conditions alter immune responses in the developing infant primate. Pediatrics 90: 505–509.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S. (2005). Keynote Presentation at the Eight International Congress of Behavioral Medicine: The Pittsburgh Common Cold Studies: Psychosocial Predictors of Susceptibility to Respiratory Infectious Illness. Int. J. Behav. Med. 12: 123–131.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., Tyrrell, D. A., and Smith, A. P. (1991). Psychological stress and susceptibility to the common cold. N. Engl. J. Med. 325: 606–612.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Copper, R. L., Goldenberg, R. L., Elder, N., Swain, M., Norman, G., Ramsey, R., Cotroneo, P., Collins, B. A., Johnson, F., Jones, P., and Meier, A. M. (1996). The preterm prediction study: Maternal stress is associated with spontaneous preterm birth at less than thirty-five weeks’ gestation. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 175: 1286–1292.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cuschieri, R. J., Morran, C. G., Howie, J. C., and McArdle, C. S. (1985). Postoperative pain and pulmonary complications: Comparison of three analgesic regimens. Br. J. Surg. 72: 495–498.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deinzer, R., Forster, P., Fuck, L., Herforth, A., Stiller-Winkler, R., and Idel, H. (1999). Increase of crevicular interleukin 1beta under academic stress at experimental gingivitis sites and at sites of perfect oral hygiene. J. Clin. Periodontol. 26: 1–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dobbin, J. P., Harth, M., McCain, G. A., Martin, R. A., and Cousin, K. (1991). Cytokine production and lymphocyte transformation during stress. Brain. Behav. Immun. 5: 339–348.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dole, N., Savitz, D. A., Hertz-Picciotto, I., Siega-Riz, A. M., McMahon, M. J., and Buekens, P. (2003). Maternal stress and preterm birth. Am. J. Epidemiol. 157: 14–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ell, K. (1996). Social networks, social support and coping with serious illness: The family connection. Soc. Sci. Med. 42: 173–183.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Engler, H., and Stefanski, V. (2003). Social stress and T cell maturation in male rats: transient and persistent alterations in thymic function. Psychoneuroendocrinology 28: 951–969.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Epel, E. S., Blackburn, E. H., Lin, J., Dhabhar, F. S., Adler, N. E., Morrow, J. D., and Cawthon, R. M. (2004). Accelerated telomere shortening in response to life stress. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 101: 17312–17315.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ershler, W. B. (1993). Interleukin-6: A cytokine for gerontolgists. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 41: 176–181.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Esterling, B. A., Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Bodnar, J., and Glaser, R. (1994). Chronic stress, social support, and persistent alterations in the natural killer cell response to cytokines in older adults. Health Psychol. 13: 291–299.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Esterling, B. A., Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., and Glaser, R. (1996). Psychosocial modulation of cytokine-induced natural killer cell activity in older adults. Psychosom. Med. 58: 264–272.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrucci, L., Corsi, A., Lauretani, F., Bandinelli, B., Taub, D. D., Guralnik, J. M., and Longo, D. L. (2005). The origins of age-related proinflammatory state. Blood 105: 2294–2299.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrucci, L., Guralnik, J. M., Studenski, S., Fried, L. P., Cutler, G. B., and Walston, J. D. (2004). Designing randomized, controlled trials aimed at preventing or delaying functional decline and disability in frail, older persons: A consensus report. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 52: 625–634.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Franceschi, C., Bonafe, M., Valensin, S., Olivieri, F., De Luca, M., Ottaviani, E., and De Benedictis, G. (2000). Inflamm-aging. An evolutionary perspective on immunosenescence. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 908: 244–254.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Francis, D., Diorio, J., Plotsky, P. M., and Meaney, M. J. (2002). Environmental enrichment reverses the effects of maternal separation on stress reactivity. J. Neurosci. 22: 7840–7843.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gerra, G., Monti, D., Panerai, A. E., Sacerdote, P., Anderlini, R., Avanzini, P., Zaimovic, A., Brambilla, F., and Franceschi, C. (2003). Long-term immune-endocrine effects of bereavement: Relationships with anxiety levels and mood. Psychiatry Res. 121: 145–158.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser, R., and Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (2005). Stress-induced immune dysfunction: Implications for health. Nat. Rev. Immunol. 5: 243–251.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser, R., Sheridan, J. F., Malarkey, W. B., MacCallum, R. C., and Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (2000). Chronic stress modulates the immune response to a pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine. Psychosom. Med. 62: 804–807.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gomez, C. R., Boehmer, E. D., and Kovacs, E. J. (2005). The aging innate immune system. Curr. Opin. Immunol. 17: 457–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. E., Christian, L. M., and Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (in press-a). Close relationships and immunity. In Ader, R. (Ed.) Psychoneuroimmunology, Elsevier, Inc., Burlington, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. E., Christian, L. M., and Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (in press-b). Marriage, health, and immune function: A review of key findings and the role of depression. In Beach, S., and Wamboldt, M. (Eds.), Relational Processes in Mental Health, American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., Arlington, VA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. E., Robles, T. F., Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Malarkey, W. B., Bissell, M. G., and Glaser, R. (in press-c). Hostility and pain are related to serum CRP levels in older adults. Brain. Behav. Immun.

  • Gunnar, M., Morison, S. J., Chisholm, K., and Schuder, M. (2001). Salivary cortisol levels in children adopted from Romanian orphanages. Dev. Psychopathol. 13: 611–628.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, M., and Irwin, M. (2001). Physiological indices of functioning in bereavement. In Stroebe, M. S., Hansson, R. O., and Stroebeet, W. (Eds.), Handbook of Bereavement Research, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, pp. 473–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harper, S. A., Fukuda, K., Uyeki, T. M., Cox, N. J., and Bridges, C. B. (2005). Prevention and control of influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). M.M.W.R. 54: 1–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, T., Ferrucci, L., Tracy, R., Corti, M., Wacholder, S., Ettinger, W. J., Heimovitz, H., Cohen, H., and Wallace, R. (1999). Associations of elevated interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein levels with mortality in the elderly. Am. J. Med. 106: 506–512.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkley, L. C., and Cacioppo, J. T. (2004). Stress and the aging immune system. Brain. Behav. Immun. 18: 114–119.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heffner, K. L., Loving, T. J., Robles, T. F., and Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (2003). Examining psychosocial factors related to cancer incidence and progression: In search of the silver lining. Brain. Behav. Immun. 17: S109–S111.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heim, C., Newport, D. J., Heit, S., Graham, Y. P., Wilcox, M., Bonsall, R., Miller, A. H., and Nemeroff, C. B. (2000). Pituitary-adrenal and autonomic responses to stress in women after sexual and physical abuse. J.A.M.A. 284: 592–597.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herbert, T. B., and Cohen, S. (1993). Depression and immunity: A meta-analytic review. Psychol. Bull. 113: 472–486.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Irwin, M., Daniels, M., Smith, T. L., Bloom, E., and Weiner, H. (1987). Impaired natural killer cell activity during bereavement. Brain. Behav. Immun. 1: 98–104.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, M. (1988). Impending surgery. In Fisher, S., and Reason, J. (Eds.), Handbook of life stress, cognition and health, John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp. 79–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kang, D. H., Coe, C. L., McCarthy, D. O., and Ershler, W. B. (1997). Immune responses to final exams in healthy and asthmatic adolescents. Nurs. Res. 46: 12–19.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kay, G., Tarcic, N., Poltyrev, T., and Weinstock, M. (1998). Prenatal stress depresses immune function in rats. Physiol. Behav. 63: 397–402.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keller, S. E., Schleifer, S. J., Bartlett, J. A., Shiflett, S. C., and Rameshwar, P. (2000). Stress, depression, immunity, and health. In Goodkin, K., and Visser, A. P. (Eds.), Psychoneuroimmunology: Stress, mental disorders, and health, American Psychatric Press, Washington, D.C., pp. 1–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (1999). Norman Cousins Memorial Lecture 1998. Stress, personal relationships, and immune function: Health implications. Brain. Behav. Immun. 13: 61–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., and Glaser, R. (1991). Stress and immune function in humans. In Ader, R., Felten, D., and Cohen, N. (Eds.), Psychoneuroimmunology II, Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 849–867.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., and Glaser, R. (2001). Stress and immunity: Age enhances the risks. Curr. Dir. Psychol. Sci. 10: 18–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Glaser, R., Cacioppo, J. T., MacCallum, R. C., Snydersmith, M., Kim, C., and Malarkey, W. B. (1997). Marital conflict in older adults: Endocrinological and immunological correlates. Psychosom. Med. 59: 339–349.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Glaser, R., Gravenstein, S., Malarkey, W. B., and Sheridan, J. (1996). Chronic stress alters the immune response to influenza virus vaccine in older adults. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 93: 3043–3047.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Loving, T. J., Stowell, J. R., Malarkey, W. B., Lemeshow, S., Dickinson, S. L., and Glaser, R. (2005). Hostile marital interactions, proinflammatory cytokine production, and wound healing. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 62: 1377–1384.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Malarkey, W. B., Chee, M., Newton, T., Cacioppo, J. T., Mao, H., and Glaser, R. (1993). Negative behavior during marital conflict is associated with immunological down-regulation. Psychosom. Med. 55: 395–409.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Marucha, P. T., Malarkey, W. B., Mercado, A. M., and Glaser, R. (1995). Slowing of wound healing by psychological stress. Lancet 346: 1194–1196.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., and Newton, T. (2001). Marriage and health: His and hers. Psychol. Bull. 127: 472–503.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Page, G. G., Marucha, P. T., MacCallum, R. C., and Glaser, R. (1998). Psychological influences on surgical recovery: Perspectives from psychoneuroimmunology. Am. Psychol. 53: 1209–1218.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Preacher, K. J., MacCallum, R. C., Atkinson, C., Malarkey, W. B., and Glaser, R. (2003). Chronic stress and age-related increases in the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 100: 9090–9095.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krabbe, K. S., Pedersen, M., and Bruunsgaard, H. (2004). Inflammatory mediators in the elderly. Exp. Gerontol. 39: 687–699.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lawlor, D. A., Ronalds, G., Clark, H., Davey Smith, G., and Leon, D. A. (2005). Birth weight is inversely associated with incident coronary heart disease and stroke among individuals born in the 1950s: Findings from the Aberdeen children of the 1950s prospective cohort study. Circulation 112: 1414–1418.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Linn, B. S., and Jensen, J. (1983). Age and immune response to a surgical stress. Arch. Surg.118: 405–409.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Linn, B. S., Linn, M. W., and Klimas, N. G. (1988). Effects of psychophysical stress on surgical outcome. Psychosom. Med. 50: 230–244.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lobel, M., DeVincent, C. J., Kaminer, A., and Meyer, B. A. (2000). The impact of prenatal maternal stress and optimistic disposition on birth outcomes in medically high-risk women. Health Psychol. 19: 544–553.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, J. M., Butcher, S., Killampali, V., Lascelles, D., and Salmon, M. (2001). Neutrophil ageing and immunesenescence. Mech. Ageing Dev. 122: 1521–1535.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lubach, G. R., Coe, C. L., and Ershler, W. B. (1995). Effects of the early rearing environment on immune responses of the infant rhesus monkey. Brain. Behav. Immun. 9: 31–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, A. D. (1991). Programming by early nutrition in man. In Bock, G. R., and Whelen, J. (Eds.), Environment and Adult Disease, Wiley, Chichester, pp. 38–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, A. D., Barker, B. A., Desal, M., and Hales, C. N. (1996). Nutrition in pregnant or lactating rats programs lipid metabolism in offspring. Br. J. Nutr.76: 605–612.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, A. D., Fewtrell, M. S., and Cole, T. J. (1999). Fetal origins of adult disease-the hypothesis revisited. Br. Med. J. 319: 245–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lutgendorf, S. K., and Costanzo, E. S. (2003). Psychoneuroimmunology and health psychology: an integrative model. Brain. Behav. Immun. 17: 225–232.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lutgendorf, S. K., Garand, L., Buckwalter, K. C., Reimer, T. T., Hong, S., and Lubaroff, D. M. (1999). Life stress, mood disturbance, and elevated interleukin-6 in healthy older women. J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci. 54: M434–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lutgendorf, S. K., Logan, H., Costanzo, E., and Lubaroff, D. (2004). Effects of acute stress, relaxation, and a neurogenic inflammatory stimulus on interleukin-6 in humans. Brain. Behav. Immun. 18: 55–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maes, M., Song, C., Lin, A., De, J. R., Van, G. A., Kenis, G., Bosmans, E., De, M. I., Benoy, I., Neels, H., Demedts, P., Janca, A., Scharpe, S., and Smith, R. (1998). The effects of psychological stress on humans: Increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and a Th1-like response in stress-induced anxiety. Cytokine 10: 313–318.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maes, M., Van Gastel, A., Delmeire, L., Kenis, G., Bosmans, E., and Song, C. (2002). Platelet alpha2-adrenoceptor density in humans: relationships to stress-induced anxiety, psychasthenic constitution, gender and stress-induced changes in the inflammatory response system. Psychol. Med. 32: 919–928.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malarkey, W., Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Pearl, D., and Glaser, R. (1994). Hostile behavior during marital conflict alters pituitary and adrenal hormones. Psychosom. Med. 56: 41–51.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Margolin, G., Burman, B., and John, R. S. (1989). Home observations of married couples reenacting naturalistic conflicts. Behav. Assess. 11: 101–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, G. D. J., Agarwal, S. K., Lloyd, C., Cohen, L., Henninger, E. M., and Morris, G. J. (1998). Cytokine dysregulation associated with exam stress in healthy medical students. Brain. Behav. Immun. 12: 297–307.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marucha, P. T., Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., and Favagehi, M. (1998). Mucosal wound healing is impaired by examination stress. Psychosom. Med. 60: 362–365.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marucha, P. T., Sheridan, J. F., and Padgett, D. (2001). Stress and Wound Healing. In Ader, R., and Cohen, N. (Eds.), Psychoneuroimmunology, Academic Press, New York, pp. 613-626.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathews, A., and Ridgeway, V. (1981). Personality and surgical recovery: A review. Brit. J. Clin. Psychol. 20: 243–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayne, T. J., O’Leary, A., McCrady, B., Contrada, R., and Labouvie, E. (1997). The differential effects of acute marital distress on emotional, physiological and immune functions in maritally distressed men and women. Psychol. Health 12: 277–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCance, R. A. (1962). Food, growth, and time. Lancet 27: 1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDade, T. W., Beck, M. A., Kuzawa, C., and Adair, L. S. (2001). Prenatal undernutrition, postnatal environments, and antibody response to vaccination in adolescence. The Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 74: 543–548.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGuire, L., Heffner, K. L., Glaser, R., Needleman, B., Malarkey, W. B., Dickinson, S., Lemeshow, S., Cook, C., Muscarella, P., Melvin, S., Ellison, C., and Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (in press). Pain and wound healing in surgical patients. Ann. Behav. Med.

  • Miller, R. A. (1996). The aging immune system: Primer and prospectus. Science 273: 70–74.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murasko, D. M., Weiner, P., and Kaye, D. (1987). Decline in mitogen induced proliferation of lymphocytes with increasing age. Clin. Exp. Immunol. 70: 440-448.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nachmias, M., Gunnar, M. R., Mangelsdorf, S., Parritz, R., and Buss, K. A. (1996). Behavioral inhibition and stress reactivity: Moderating role of attachment security. Child Dev. 67: 508–522.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nordentoft, M., Lou, H. C., Hansen, D., Nim, J., Pryds, O., Rubin, P., and Hemmingsen, R. (1996). Intrauterne growth retardation and premature delivery: the influence of maternal smoking and psychosocial factors. Am. J. Public Health 86: 347–354.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Otte, C., Neylan, T. C., Pole, N., Metzler, T., Best, S., Henn-Haase, C., Yehuda, R., and Marmar, C. R. (2005). Association between childhood trauma and catecholamine reponse to psychological stress in police academy recruits. Biol. Psychiatry 57: 27–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Page, G. G. (2005a). Immunologic effects of opioids in the presence or absence of pain. J. Pain Symptom Manage. 29: 25–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Page, G. G. (2005b). Surgery-induced immunosuppression and postopeative pain management. AACN Clin. Issues Crit. Care Nurs. 16: 302–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Page, G. G., Blakely, W. P., and Ben-Eliyahu, S. (2001). Evidence that postoperative pain is a mediator of the tumor-promoting effects of surgery in rats. Pain 90: 191–199.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parham, P. (2005). The Immune System, Second Edition. Garland Science Publishing, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasqualucci, A., Contardo, R., Da Broi, U., Colo, F., Terrosu, D. A., Sorrentino, M., Pasetto, A., and Bresadola, F. (1994). The effects of intraperitoneal local anesthetic on analgesic requirements and endocrine response after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A randomized double-blind controlled study. J. Laparoendosc. Surg. 4: 405–412.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pearson, T. A., Mensah, G. A., Alexander, R. W., Anderson, J. L., Cannon, R. O. III, Criqui, M., Fadl, Y. Y., Fortmann, S. P., Hong, Y., Myers, G. L., Rifai, N., Smith, S. C.Jr, Taubert, K., Tracy, R. P., and Vinicor, F. (2003). Markers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease: Application to clinical and public health practice: A statement for healthcare professionals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association. Circulation 107: 499–511.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pezzone, M. A., Dohanics, J., and Rabin, B. S. (1994). Effects of footshock stress upon spleen and peripheral blood lymphocyte mitogenic responses in rats with lesions of the paraventricular nucleus. J. Neuroimmunol. 53: 39–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pradhan, A. D., Manson, J. E., Rifai, N., Buring, J. E., and Ridker, P. M. (2001). C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. J.A.M.A. 286: 327–334.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rabin, B. S. (1999). Stress, immune function, and health: The connection. Wiley-Liss & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Repetti, R. L., Taylor, S. E., and Seeman, T. E. (2002). Risky families: family social environments and the mental and physical health of offspring. Psychol. Bull. 128: 330–366.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reyes, T. M., and Coe, C. L. (1997). Prenatal manipulations reduce the pro-inflammatory response to a cytokine challenge in juvenile monkeys. Brain Res.769: 29–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rich-Edwards, J. W., Colditz, G. A., Stampfer, M. J., Willett, W. C., Gillman, M. W., Hennekens, C. H., Speizer, F. E., and Manson, J. E. (1999). Birthweight and the risk for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in adult women. Ann. Intern. Med. 130: 278–284.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ridker, P., Rifai, N., Stampfer, M., and Hennekens, C. (2000). Plasma concentration of interleukin-6 and the risk of future myocardial infarction among apparently healthy men. Circulation 101: 1767–1772.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ridker, P. M. (2003). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and cardiovascular risk: rationale for screening and primary prevention. Am. J. Cardiol. 92: 17K–22K.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robles, T. F., Graham, J. E., Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Malarkey, W. B., Bissell, M. G., and Glaser, R. (under review). Chronic stress and elevated inflammatory markers contribute to poorer health-related quality-of-life in older adults.

  • Roubenoff, R., Harris, T. B., Abad, L. W., Wilson, P. W. F., Dallal, G. E., and Dinarello, C. A. (1998). Monocyte cyokine production in an elderly population: Effect of age and inflammation. J. Gerontol. A. Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. 53: M20–M26.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sapolsky, R. M., Krey, L. C., and McEwen, B. S. (1986). The neuroendocrinology of stress and aging: The glucocorticoid cascade hypothesis. Endocr. Revs. 7: 284–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schleifer, S., Keller, S., Camerino, M., Thorton, J. C., and Stein, M. (1983). Suppression of lymphocyte stimulation following bereavement. J.A.M.A. 250: 374–377.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Segerstrom, S. C., and Miller, G. E. (2004). Psychological stress and the human immune system: A meta-analytic study of 30 years of inquiry. Psychol. Bull. 130: 1–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shavit, Y., Terman, G. W., Lewis, J. W., Zane, C. A., and al, e. (1986). Effects of footshock stress and morphine on natural killer lymphocytes in rats: Studies of tolerance and cross-tolerance. Brain Res. 372: 382–385.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singer, A. J., and Clark, R. A. (1999). Cutaneous wound healing. N. Engl. J. Med. 341: 738–746.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, G. F., and Morley, J. E. (2001). Psychoneuroimmunology and Aging. In Ader, R., Felten, D. L., and Cohen, N. (Eds.), Psychoneuroimmunology, Third Edition, Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 701–713.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vedhara, K., Cox, N. K. M., Wilcock, G. K., Perks, P., Hunt, M., Anderson, S., Lightman, S. L., and Shanks, N. M. (1999). Chronic stress in elderly carers of dementia patients and antibody response to influenza vaccination. Lancet 353: 627–631.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • von Kanel, R., Dimsdale, J. E., Adler, K. A., Patterson, T. L., Mills, P. J., and Grant, I. (2005). Exaggerated plasma fibrin formation (D-dimer) in elderly Alzheimer caregivers as compared to noncaregiving controls. Gerontology 51: 7–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wadhwa, P. D., Sandman, C. A., Porto, M., Dunkel-Schetter, C., and Garite, T. J. (1993). The association between prenatal stress and infant birth weight and gestational age at birth: a prospective study. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 169: 858–865.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, L. R., and Maier, S. F. (2003). When good pain turns bad. Curr. Dir. Psychol. Sci. 12: 232–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weinstock, M. (2005). The potential influence of maternal stress hormones on development and mental health of offspring. Brain. Behav. Immun. 19: 296–308.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wust, S., Entringer, S., Federenko, I. S., Schlotz, W., and Hellhammer, D. H. (2005). Birth weight is associated with salivary cortisol responses to psychosocial stress in adult life. Psychoneuroendocrinology 30: 591–598.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshikawa, T. T. (1983). Geriatric infectious diseases: An emerging problem. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 31: 34–39.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Work on this manuscript was supported by grants T32AI55411, AT002971, CA100243, AT002122, M01-RR-0034 and CA16058 from the National Institutes of Health.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Jennifer E. Graham & Lisa M. Christian

  2. Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Jennifer E. Graham & Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser

  3. Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Lisa M. Christian

  4. Department of Psychiatry, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser

  5. Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, Ohio State University College of Medicine, 1581 Dodd Drive, 193G McCampbell Hall, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Jennifer E. Graham

Authors
  1. Jennifer E. Graham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lisa M. Christian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer E. Graham.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Graham, J.E., Christian, L.M. & Kiecolt-Glaser, J.K. Stress, Age, and Immune Function: Toward a Lifespan Approach. J Behav Med 29, 389–400 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-006-9057-4

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-006-9057-4

KEY WORDS:

Search

Navigation