Study Links Social Stress to Accelerated Aging of the Immune System
A National Institute on Aging-funded study published in PNAS found exposure to social stress was associated with accelerated aging of the immune system (Klopack et al., 2022).
Researchers examined data of more than 5,500 people enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study, a long-term, nationally representative study of Americans over age 50. Researchers measured stress by analyzing responses to questions about exposure to various types of social stress, such as discrimination, trauma, and other life events (e.g., unemployment). Participants’ immune profiles also were analyzed by taking blood and measuring T lymphocytes (T cells), which help the body fight off infection.
Researchers found exposure to social stress was related to a greater proportion of T cells committed to previous known infections in the body and fewer T cells could adapt to new challenges, suggesting accelerated immune aging. Association between social stress and T cells was present after controlling for education, smoking, drinking, body mass index, and race or ethnicity.
The study also found improving lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, may decrease accelerated immune aging associated with social stress.
Reference
Klopack, E.T., Crimmins, E.M., Cole, S.W., Seeman, T.E., & Carroll, J.E. (2022). Social stressors associated with age-related T lymphocyte percentages in older US adults: Evidence from the US Health and Retirement Study. PNAS, 119(25), e2202780119.n https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2202780119