Chronic stress alters the immune response to influenza virus vaccine in older adults.

Abstract

To

Chronic stress modulates the virus-specific immune response to latent herpes simplex virus Type 1

“…We also found that both the humoral and virus-specific cellular immune response to inoculation of an influenza virus vaccine was significantly down-regulated in caregivers as compared to control subjects (38). Caregivers were less likely to show a four-fold increase in antibody titers four weeks after vaccination; they had lower levels of in vitro stimulated IL-113; and their PBLs produced lower levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in response to vaccine (antigen) stimulation.…”

“…Adults who show poorer responses to vaccines and other antigenic challenges also experience higher rates of clinical illness, including influenza virus infections (39,40). Thus, these vaccine data suggest that caregivers are more vulnerable than their age-peers to influenza and, potentially, to other infectious agents (38)(39)(40)(41).…”

“…Data from studies showing such important health consequences as wound healing (37) and poor influenza vaccine responses (38) add weight to the contention that the chronic stress of caregiving can have adverse consequences for older adults' physical health as well.…”

A Comparison of Psychosocial Outcomes in Elderly Alzheimer Caregivers and Noncaregivers

“…Russo and colleagues also report caregivers to have greater prevalence of psychiatric disorders than demographically matched non-caregivers (16). Regarding health outcomes, caregivers have been found to have increased inflammation (17)and compromised immune functioning (18)relative to non-caregivers. Further, caregiving status appears to be associated with greater concentrations of stress hormones and antibodies (19), and male caregivers appear at greater risk for coronary heart disease relative to male non-caregivers(20).…”

Antibody response to vaccination and psychosocial stress in humans: relationships and mechanisms

“…An early study found no relationship between life change stress or mood state and antibody response to influenza vaccination [43]. More recently, a study by Kiecolt-Glaser and colleagues [44] used the caregiver-control model in which spousal caregivers were compared to agematched controls. Caring for an elderly spouse is acknowledged as being arduous and prolonged [45] and, therefore, it is possible to use this model to assess the effects of a severe, chronic stressor on response to influenza vaccination.…”