CHRONIC STRESS ALTERS THE IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO INFLUENZA-VIRUS VACCINE IN OLDER ADULTS

To determine whether a chronic stressor (caregiving for a spouse with a progressive dementia) is associated with an Impaired immune response to influenza virus vaccination, we compared 32 caregivers' vaccine re sponses with those of 32 sex-, age-, and socioeconomically matched con trol subjects. Caregivers showed a poorer antibody response following vaccination relative to control subjects as assessed by two independen t methods, ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition. Caregivers also had lower levels of in vitro virus-specific-induced Interleukin 2 levels a nd interleukin 1 beta; interleukin 6 did not differ between groups. Th ese data demonstrate that down-regulation of the immune response to in fluenza virus vaccination is associated with a chronic stressor in the elderly. These results could have implications for vulnerability to i nfection among older adults.