Stress and immunosenescence: The role of telomerase

Chronic stress is a major contributor to the development and progression of a range of physical and mental disorders such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune disease and depression (Cohen et al., 2007). Several lines of evidence converge to suggest that these pathophysiological effects of stress on health and disease risk are mediated in large part by rate of accelerated aging of the immune system (immunosenescence). This process is characterized by the inability to mount an appropriate and effective immune response to challenge, and it is associated with a low-grade chronic pro-inflammatory state (Fulop et al., 2017).

Source: Psychoneuroendocrinology - October 23, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Karin de Punder, Christine Heim, Pathik D. Wadhwa, Sonja Entringer Source Type: research