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Physiological dysregulation and somatic decline among elders: modeling, applying and re-interpreting allostatic load
Rachael Leahy1, Douglas E Crews
1The Ohio State University, Department of Anthropology and School of Public Health, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
Collegium Antropologicum
|July 24, 2012
Summary
Allostatic load (AL), the cumulative impact of lifelong stress, predicts negative health outcomes in older adults. It serves as a biomarker for aging and disease risk, aiding clinical assessment.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Physiology
- Stress Research
Background:
- Declining mortality in older adults necessitates understanding long-term physiological stress responses.
- Allostatic load (AL) quantifies the cumulative wear-and-tear on the body from chronic stress exposure.
- Lifelong stressors, from early life to lifestyle, contribute to allostatic load and subsequent health issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize findings on the relationship between allostatic load and health outcomes in elderly populations.
- To evaluate the utility of allostatic load as a measure of physiological dysregulation and somatic decline in aging.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 44 peer-reviewed publications from 2005-2010.
- Analysis focused on studies examining allostatic load in samples of elderly adults.
- Inclusion criteria focused on relationships between AL and risk factors, chronic diseases, morbidity, and mortality.
Main Results:
- Allostatic load effectively assesses physiological dysregulation and somatic decline in older adults.
- Higher allostatic load is associated with detrimental age-related health declines.
- Allostatic load correlates with negative sociocultural attributes and psychological outcomes in the elderly.
Conclusions:
- Allostatic load is a valuable research and clinical tool for assessing aging-related health.
- It serves as a potential biomarker of senescence, predicting future negative health outcomes.
- Long-term assessment of allostatic load can improve prediction of health trajectories in aging populations.
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