title: Plasma catecholamine and lymphocyte beta 2-adrenergic receptor alterations in elderly Alzheimer caregivers under stress.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dimsdale
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hauger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000097:blood; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine