The prospective relationship between subjective aging and inflammation: Evidence from the health and retirement study. (19th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stephan, Yannick; Sutin, Angelina R.; Luchetti, Martina; Terracciano, Antonio
• Is Part Of: Psychophysiology. Volume 60:Number 2(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-09-19
• Subjects: anti‐inflammatory cytokines -- pro‐inflammatory cytokines -- self‐perceptions of aging -- subjective age -- systemic inflammation; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14177
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0048-5772

Abstract

Abstract: This study tested the prospective associations and potential mediators between subjective aging, indexed by subjective age and self‐perceptions of aging (SPA), and a range of inflammatory markers, including C‐reactive proteins (CRP) and pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines among older adults. Participants ( N = 6099, 59% women, age range = 50 to 94, Mean Age = 65.32, SD = 8.85) were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study. Subjective age, SPA, and demographic factors were assessed in 2008/2010. Assessments of soluble transformation growth factor‐beta 1 (sTGF‐β1), interleukin 10 (IL‐10), interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1Ra), interleukin 6 (IL‐6), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNFR1), and high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) were measured in 2016. Potential mediators (body mass index, disease burden, physical inactivity, and depressive symptoms) were asssessed at baseline and in 2012/2014. Linear regression analyses indicated that an older subjective age and negative SPA were related to higher level of IL‐10, IL‐1Ra, IL‐6, sTNFR1 and hsCRP. These associations were mediated by higher disease burden and physical inactivity. Negative SPA (but not subjective age) was associated with lower sTGF‐β1. The link between subjective aging and inflammatory markers was relatively independent from chronological age. The present study provides new evidence that subjective aging is prospectively associated with inflammation, including systemic inflammation and pro‐and anti‐inflammatory cytokines. Abstract : Based upon a large sample of older adults, the present study found that an older subjective age and negative self‐perceptions of aging were associated with higher systemic inflammation and pro‐and anti inflammatory cytokines assessed 6 to 8 years later. Furthermore, these associations were partly mediated by disease burden and physical inactivity. This study contributes to knowledge on the psychological correlates of inflammation and more broadly on the psychological factors associated with immunity among older adults.