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Psychoneuroendocrine interventions aimed at attenuating immunosenescence: a review.

Biogerontology
February 1, 2013
Moisés E Bauer et al. (6 authors)
Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to review the role of DHEA in attenuating immunosenescence and its potential benefits on immune function and overall well-being.

Results Summary

DHEA supplementation showed significant beneficial effects, including improved immunocompetence (T cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, cytokine production), increased well-being, memory performance, and bone mineral density. However, side effects of hormonal supplementation were also discussed.

Population

Elderly populations (implied by focus on immunosenescence).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (16)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Stress-buffering strategies
decrease
various biomarkers
elderly populations
-
show beneficial effects
#1
supplementation of DHEA
increase
well-being
-
-
has yielded significant beneficial effects
#2
supplementation of DHEA
increase
memory performance
-
-
has yielded significant beneficial effects
#3
supplementation of DHEA
increase
bone mineral density
-
-
has yielded significant beneficial effects
#4
supplementation of DHEA
increase
immunocompetence
-
-
has yielded significant beneficial effects
#5
supplementation of melatonin
increase
well-being
-
-
has yielded significant beneficial effects
#6
supplementation of melatonin
increase
memory performance
-
-
has yielded significant beneficial effects
#7
supplementation of melatonin
increase
bone mineral density
-
-
has yielded significant beneficial effects
#8
supplementation of melatonin
increase
immunocompetence
-
-
has yielded significant beneficial effects
#9
supplementation of growth hormone
increase
well-being
-
-
has yielded significant beneficial effects
#10
supplementation of growth hormone
increase
memory performance
-
-
has yielded significant beneficial effects
#11
supplementation of growth hormone
increase
bone mineral density
-
-
has yielded significant beneficial effects
#12
supplementation of growth hormone
increase
immunocompetence
-
-
has yielded significant beneficial effects
#13
moderate exercise via the promotion of cortisol/DHEA balance or epigenetic modifications
decrease
serum pro-inflammatory cytokines
-
-
is associated with lower
#14
moderate exercise via the promotion of cortisol/DHEA balance or epigenetic modifications
increase
lymphoproliferative responses
-
-
is associated with greater
#15
moderate exercise via the promotion of cortisol/DHEA balance or epigenetic modifications
decrease
counts of senescent T cells
-
-
is associated with lower
#16
Abstract

There is evidence suggesting that immunosenescence can be accelerated by external factors such as chronic stress. Here we review potential psychoneuroendocrine determinants of premature aging of the immune system and discuss available interventions aimed at attenuating immunosenescence. Chronic stress may accelerate various features of immunosenescence by activating key allostatic systems, notably the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The immunological impact of such neuroendocrine dysregulation may be further amplified by a dramatic decline in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels, acting in part as an endogenous glucocorticoid antagonist. Stress-buffering strategies show beneficial effects on various biomarkers in elderly populations. Likewise, supplementation of DHEA, melatonin or growth hormone has yielded significant beneficial effects in a number of studies, including: increased well-being, memory performance, bone mineral density and improved immunocompetence as evidenced by results of in vitro (T cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, cytokine production), and in vivo immune challenges. However, the side-effects of hormonal supplementation are also discussed. Finally, moderate exercise via the promotion of cortisol/DHEA balance or epigenetic modifications, is associated with lower serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, greater lymphoproliferative responses and lower counts of senescent T cells. Taken together, these data suggest that immune system is plastic and immunosenescence can be attenuated psychoneuroendocrine interventions.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AgingAging, PrematureDehydroepiandrosteroneFemaleGhrelinHuman Growth HormoneHumansMaleMelatoninMotor ActivityNeuroimmunomodulationNeurosecretory SystemsSocial SupportStress, Physiological
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety70
Efficacy80/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations13
Citations/Year1.1
Relative Citation Ratio0.49
NIH Percentile26.4%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.25
Weight Score1.42
Normalized Score0.75
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