OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chronic stress on beta-adrenergic physiology in elderly spousal caregivers to Alzheimer patients. METHODS: Thirty-seven elderly spousal caregivers and matched noncaregiver controls (mean age 73 years, SD = 6) were studied. Life stress categorization (presence of marked threat) covering the previous 6 months was determined using a semistructured interview based on the Psychiatric Epidemiological Research Inventory and the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule. beta 2-adrenergic receptor sensitivity (isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation) and density were determined in lymphocytes. RESULTS: Caregivers with high life stress had higher plasma norepinephrine levels (p < .04) but no change in plasma cortisol. For beta-receptor sensitivity, 30% of the variance was accounted for by high life stress rating, increased age, being male, and lower norepinephrine (p = .018); 17% of the variance in beta-receptor density was accounted for by plasma norepinephrine (p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate that chronic high stress may be associated with changes in adrenergic physiology and may provide a mechanism through which chronic stress alters cellular immunity.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chronic stress on beta-adrenergic physiology in elderly spousal caregivers to Alzheimerpatients. METHODS: Thirty-seven elderly spousal caregivers and matched noncaregiver controls (mean age 73 years, SD = 6) were studied. Life stress categorization (presence of marked threat) covering the previous 6 months was determined using a semistructured interview based on the Psychiatric Epidemiological Research Inventory and the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule. beta 2-adrenergic receptor sensitivity (isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation) and density were determined in lymphocytes. RESULTS: Caregivers with high life stress had higher plasma norepinephrine levels (p < .04) but no change in plasma cortisol. For beta-receptor sensitivity, 30% of the variance was accounted for by high life stress rating, increased age, being male, and lower norepinephrine (p = .018); 17% of the variance in beta-receptor density was accounted for by plasma norepinephrine (p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate that chronic high stress may be associated with changes in adrenergic physiology and may provide a mechanism through which chronic stress alters cellular immunity.
Authors: Elizabeth A Chattillion; Brent T Mausbach; Susan K Roepke; Roland von Känel; Paul J Mills; Joel E Dimsdale; Matthew Allison; Michael G Ziegler; Thomas L Patterson; Sonia Ancoli-Israel; Igor Grant Journal: Psychol Health Date: 2011-12-12
Authors: Paula R Sherwood; Thomas J Price; Jason Weimer; Dianxu Ren; Heidi S Donovan; Charles W Given; Barbara A Given; Richard Schulz; Jennifer Prince; Catherine Bender; Florien W Boele; Anna L Marsland Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2016-02-23 Impact factor: 4.130
Authors: Susan K Roepke; Matthew Allison; Roland Von Känel; Brent T Mausbach; Elizabeth A Chattillion; Alexandrea L Harmell; Thomas L Patterson; Joel E Dimsdale; Paul J Mills; Michael G Ziegler; Sonia Ancoli-Israel; Igor Grant Journal: Stress Date: 2011-07-26 Impact factor: 3.493
Authors: Susan K Roepke; Elizabeth A Chattillion; Roland von Känel; Matthew Allison; Michael G Ziegler; Joel E Dimsdale; Paul J Mills; Thomas L Patterson; Sonia Ancoli-Israel; Susan Calleran; Alexandrea L Harmell; Igor Grant Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2011-01-07 Impact factor: 4.312
Authors: Brent T Mausbach; Kirstin Aschbacher; Paul J Mills; Susan K Roepke; Roland von Känel; Thomas L Patterson; Joel E Dimsdale; Michael G Ziegler; Sonia Ancoli-Israel; Igor Grant Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2008-08-16 Impact factor: 3.222
Authors: Jennifer S Ho; Jennifer Bordon; Vicki Wang; Jennifer Ceglowski; Daniel H Kim; Elizabeth A Chattillion; Thomas L Patterson; Igor Grant; Michael G Ziegler; Paul J Mills; Brent T Mausbach Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2013-05-18 Impact factor: 4.077