PSYCHONEUROIMMUNOLOGY AND AGING

Background: The senescence of the immune system is a complex phenomeno n, characterized by impairment of several lymphocyte activities and ge nerally considered a state of immune dysregulation. Aging is a conditi on associated with many social changes likely to induce psychological stress, which is often perceived as uncontrollable and can lead, in so me cases, to clinically relevant depression. In the recent years a gro wing interest has been raised for the study of bidirectional interacti ons between the central nervous system and the immunological network ( psychoneuroimmunology). Objective and Methods: We analyzed the possibi lity that chronic psychological distress and depression could worsen s ome immune functions in the aged. We postulate the neuroendocrine mech anisms of psychoimmune interaction, analyzing both the human and anima l studies focused on aging. Results: The data from the literature revi ewed suggest a significant impact of affective disorders on immune fun ctions in the elderly subjects. This psychoimmune imbalance appears pa rticularly important when the studies are carried out in otherwise hea lthy aged people. Conclusions: Here we reviewed the relationships betw een psychological stress and depression and immunological functions, w ith particular regard to those aspects pertinent to the aging process. The clinical relevance of these interactions remains to be elucidated , but the high frequency in the aged of autoimmune, infectious, and ne oplastic diseases suggests to focus on the psychoneuroimmune interacti ons in the old age. We also propose some outlines for future studies c oncerning psychoneuroimmunology and aging.