TY - JOUR
T1 - Resilience and immune function in older adults
AU - Fagundes, Christopher P.
AU - Gillie, Brandon L.
AU - Derry, Heather M.
AU - Bennett, Jeanette M.
AU - Kiecolt-glaser, Janice K.
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Normal aging is marked by dysregulated immune function or immunosenescence. However, there is considerable variation in the degree to which adults are susceptible or resilient to immune dysregulation and disease. Stress is an important factor that can further alter the aging immune system. In this chapter, we review research that shows how stress can enhance age-related immune dysregulation in a variety of clinically relevant ways. We then explore what factors promote resilience to the negative immunological consequences of stress and aging. Finally, we take a lifespan perspective to examine evidence to suggest that some of the most important factors that augment or assuage an older adult's capacity for resilience to age and stress-related immune dysregulation develop long before he or she reaches older adulthood.
AB - Normal aging is marked by dysregulated immune function or immunosenescence. However, there is considerable variation in the degree to which adults are susceptible or resilient to immune dysregulation and disease. Stress is an important factor that can further alter the aging immune system. In this chapter, we review research that shows how stress can enhance age-related immune dysregulation in a variety of clinically relevant ways. We then explore what factors promote resilience to the negative immunological consequences of stress and aging. Finally, we take a lifespan perspective to examine evidence to suggest that some of the most important factors that augment or assuage an older adult's capacity for resilience to age and stress-related immune dysregulation develop long before he or she reaches older adulthood.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84870953636&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1891/0198-8794.32.29
DO - 10.1891/0198-8794.32.29
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84870953636
SN - 0198-8794
VL - 32
SP - 29
EP - 48
JO - Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics
JF - Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics
IS - 1
ER -