title: Age differences in allostatic load: an index of physiological dysregulation.
abstract: This preliminary report examines variation in allostatic load by age for a large nationally representative population of the United States. It uses data on 13 indicators of physiologic dysregulation from a nationally representative sample of the US population 20 years of age and over. Allostatic load is remarkably constant in the older ages after increasing sharply in the years from 20 to 60. We hypothesize that this represents mortality selectivity of the population by physiological status.
authors.affiliation: Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0191, USA. crimmin@usc.edu
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Crimmins
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seeman
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D012307:Risk Factors; D015983:Selection Bias; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012709:Serum Albumin; D006710:Homocysteine; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003404:Creatinine