Psychoneuroendocrine interventions aimed at attenuating immunosenescence: a review.
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.