%0 Journal Article
%T Response to Acute Psychophysical Stress and 24-Hour Glycemic Control in Healthy Older People
%A Loretta DiPietro
%A Catherine W. Yeckel
%A Andrei Gribok
%J Journal of Aging Research
%D 2012
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2012/803864
%X We examined the relation between stress reactivity and 24£¿h glycemic control in 17 inactive, healthy older people (¡Ý60 years) under both a novel psychophysical stress and a seated control condition. Plasma cortisol was measured over the course of the stress and recovery periods. Glycemic control was determined over the subsequent 3£¿h from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and over 24£¿h via continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). We observed significant ( £¿£¿ < 0 . 0 5 ) elevations in perceived stress, cardiovascular activity, and peak cortisol response at 30£¿min ( 1 0 . 6 ¡À 3 . 1 versus 8 . 6 ¡À 2 . 6 £¿¦Ìg¡¤dL£¿1, resp.) during the stress compared with the control condition; however, 3£¿h OGTT glucose and insulin responses were similar between conditions. The CGM data suggested a 30¨C40£¿min postchallenge delay in peak glucose response and attenuated glucose clearance over the 6£¿h following the stress condition, but these alterations were not statistically significant. Healthy older people may demonstrate minimal disruption in metabolic resiliency following everyday psychological stress. 1. Introduction ¡°Stress¡± is a common and adaptive component of our interaction with the environment [1], and allostasis refers to the body¡¯s ability to reestablish stability (i.e., homeostasis) when confronted by various environmental challenges through the activation of neural, neuroendocrine, and neuroendocrine-immune responses [2]. There is some evidence from animal models that aging per se alters allostatic ability, although the data in humans are inconclusive [3]. Nonetheless, older age is characterized by diminished physical capabilities (e.g., vision, strength, and reaction time), which may make normal everyday experiences and challenges (like driving an automobile or crossing the street) more stressful [4]. Thus, older people may have more frequent exposures to stressful situations, along with a compromised ability to respond appropriately to them. There are significant individual differences in how individuals cope with environmental challenges, however, and this may be due to the interaction of heredity, development, education, and life experiences [5, 6]. Furthermore, there is substantial heterogeneity with regard to patterns of aging [7] such that some older people appear more resilient than others to the physiological consequences of various environmental challenges. Resiliency to psychophysical stress therefore may be considered an important indicator of successful aging. To date, much of the experimental study of stress reactivity and health has focused on
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jar/2012/803864/