OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chronic stress on beta-adrenergic physiology in elderly spousal caregivers to Alzheimer patients. METHODS: Thirty-seven elderly spousal caregivers and matched noncaregiver controls (mean age 73 years, SD = 6) were studied. Life stress categorization (presence of marked threat) covering the previous 6 months was determined using a semistructured interview based on the Psychiatric Epidemiological Research Inventory and the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule. beta 2-adrenergic receptor sensitivity (isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation) and density were determined in lymphocytes. RESULTS: Caregivers with high life stress had higher plasma norepinephrine levels (p < .04) but no change in plasma cortisol. For beta-receptor sensitivity, 30% of the variance was accounted for by high life stress rating, increased age, being male, and lower norepinephrine (p = .018); 17% of the variance in beta-receptor density was accounted for by plasma norepinephrine (p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate that chronic high stress may be associated with changes in adrenergic physiology and may provide a mechanism through which chronic stress alters cellular immunity.
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Mills et al. (1997) studied this question.
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