Why the study?
Stress and depression impair immune function and promote chronic inflammation, but their relationship with immune system status in anti-aging unit patients prior to preventive programs required evaluation.
Depression is negatively correlated with natural killer cell function and other immune parameters in patients evaluated in an anti-aging unit.
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May indicate immune vulnerability in depressed patients; leaves open whether treating depression restores NK function.
BACKGROUND: There is compelling evidence pointing out that stress and depression produce a dramatic impact on human well-being mainly through impairing the regular function of the immune system and producing a low-chronic inflammation status that favors the occurrence of infections, metabolic diseases, and even cancer. The present work aims to evaluate the stress/depression levels of some patients treated in an antiaging unit and detect any potential relationship with their immune system status prior of the implementation of a physical/psychological program designed to prevent health deterioration. METHODS: We evaluated 48 patients (16 men and 32 women with a mean age of 55.11 ± 10.71 years) from middle-upper class from psychological and immunological points of view. In particular, we analyzed neutrophil chemotaxis and phagocytosis; lymphocyte chemotaxis and proliferation, and natural killer (NK) cell activity. RESULTS: Women showed more depressive symptoms than men. Chemotaxis levels of lymphocytes and neutrophils in women showed a significant reduction compared with those in men. We also found a strong negative correlation between depression and NK cell function. This correlation was also significant independently of gender. CONCLUSION: We conclude that NK activity is affected at least by depression state, and we propose that a combined treatment consisting of cognitive behavioral therapy and physical activity programs might improve patient health deterioration.
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Cañas-González et al. (2020) studied this question.
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