AGING, STRESS, OBESITY AND CHRONIC INFLAMMATION

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. People over 65 represent the fastest growing segment in our population. Arthritis, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and dementia are diseases that make up the largest component of these diseases of aging. Two elements that appear to play a major role in the pathogenesis of these disorders are psychosocial factors and chronic inflammation. Stress, socioeconomic status, depression, loneliness, pessimism, and numerous poor health behaviors are a few of the psychosocial factors that have been implicated in the etiology and promotion of these disorders. The importance of chronic inflammation in these disorders gains credibility from numerous reports in the arthritis and cardiovascular literature. Another national health problem associated with chronic inflammation is obesity which is a risk factor for all of the diseases of aging.. In this proposal we will be evaluating IL-6 and an additional set of biopsychosocial and genomic factors that have been demonstrated or postulated to be linked to the inflammatory cascade. We will explore the association between the stress of low SES and chronic inflammation. Additionally, we will evaluate other biopsychosocial factors that may modify or confound this effect. This pilot study will consist of evaluating a cohort (n=60) of 35-60 year old overweight males or females of low ($15-30,000 per annum) and high ($50-80,000 per annum) socioeconomic status, over 1 month, assessing various genomic and biopsychosocial factors related to chronic inflammation. Venipuncture and salivette techniques will be used to obtain serum and saliva samples, respectively. During the 4 weeks after the initial study visit, the relationship of resiliency (ability to recover from daily stressors), as determined by daily diary methods, to the inflammatory response will be evaluated on the subjects in the both grouped. Weekly assessments of cortisol secretion will add a biologic stress measure to this evaluation. CRP and IL-6 will be drawn at the end of the second week of the monthly diary assessment and at the end of the month. Before and at the end of the month we will acquire an additional battery of biomarkers associated with chronic inflammation and correlate them with the low SES subjects' stress and resilience during the month. For the high SES group, patients will be asked to return for the same assessment, but we will not ask them to use the diaries. We are particularly interested in the variation in resiliency in the low SES group, and the diary data from these patients will be helpful in designing an intervention specific to them. A single cut abdominal CT scan will be obtained at baseline to provide information on visceral fat content. A subset of individuals will also receive an MRI to obtain information on all body fat deposits. It is anticipated that this study will yield preliminary data and support for an R-21 and Program Project submission on Stress, Aging and Chronic Inflammation to the National Institute of Aging.