Augmenting immune responses to varicella zoster virus in older adults: a randomized, controlled trial of Tai Chi.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of a behavioral intervention, Tai Chi, on resting and vaccine-stimulated levels of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to varicella zoster virus (VZV) and on health functioning in older adults.


METHODS
A prospective, randomized, controlled trial with allocation to two arms (Tai Chi and health education) for 25 weeks. After 16 weeks of intervention, subjects were vaccinated with VARIVAX, the live attenuated Oka/Merck VZV vaccine licensed to prevent varicella.


METHODS
Two urban U.S. communities between 2001 and 2005.


METHODS
A total of 112 healthy older adults aged 59 to 86.


METHODS
The primary endpoint was a quantitative measure of VZV-CMI. Secondary outcomes were scores on the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).


RESULTS
The Tai Chi group showed higher levels of VZV-CMI than the health education group (P<.05), with a significant rate of increase (P<.001) that was nearly twice that found in the health education group. Tai Chi alone induced an increase in VZV-CMI that was comparable in magnitude with that induced by varicella vaccine, and the two were additive; Tai Chi, together with vaccine, produced a substantially higher level of VZV-CMI than vaccine alone. The Tai Chi group also showed significant improvements in SF-36 scores for physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality, and mental health (P<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Tai Chi augments resting levels of VZV-specific CMI and boosts VZV-CMI of the varicella vaccine.
Irwin
Michael R
MR
Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. mirwin1@ucla.edu
Olmstead
Richard
R
Oxman
Michael N
MN
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000276:immunology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D026302:Tai Ji
D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine