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Background. Previous research has indicated that older adults with severe life stress show attenuated immune responses to influenza vaccination. Associations among mood, optimism, stress, and the in vitro cytokine response to influenza virus and vaccine were evaluated in 18 healthy older adults with low to moderate life stress. Methods. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated in cultures with 1999-2000 influenza vaccine viruses (A/ Beijing/262/95, A/Sydney/5/97, and B/Yamanashi/166/98) and the 2000-2001 trivalent vaccine (containing A/New Caledonia/20/99, A/Panama/2007/99, and B/Yamanashi/166/98). The levels of T-helper type 1 (interleukin-2 and interferon-[gamma]) and type 2 (interleukin-10) cytokines were measured in culture supernatants. Results. Stress, age, and current health practices were unrelated to cytokine production. Older adults reporting greater anger, fatigue, confusion, and total mood disturbance had poorer cytokine responses to live virus and vaccine stimulation. In contrast, older adults who reported greater vigor and those who were more optimistic had greater cytokine responses to both live virus and vaccine. These relationships were largely unaffected by medications or health conditions. Conclusions. These findings suggest that among older adults, even mild to moderate mood disturbance is associated with an attenuated cellular immune response to live influenza virus and vaccine.

Background. Decreases in immune responsiveness with age contribute to the increased incidence and severity of infectious disease among elderly adults. The immune response to immunization also decreases with advancing age. Life-style factors (exercise, diet) have been established to play an important role in immunosenescence, and the practice of 'healthy' behavior may minimize the age-associated decline of immune function. The objective of this study was to determine whether exercise, diet, and psychosocial factors were associated with altered immune response to influenza vaccine. Methods. Adults aged 62 years and older were categorized into one of three groups: active ([greater than or equal to] 20 min vigorous exercise three or more times per week), moderately active (regular exercise but with less intensity, frequency, and/or duration), or sedentary (no exercise). Two weeks postimmunization, serum was frozen for antibody analysis, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured in vitro with influenza vaccine to elicit antigen-specific responses (proliferation and cytokine [IL-2, IFN-[gamma], IL-10] production). Cytokines and antibody were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. The results demonstrated that anti-influenza IgG and IgM were greater in active as compared with moderately active or sedentary participants. PBMC proliferation was lowest in sedentary subjects. Perceived stress was a significant predictor of IL-2. Greater optimism and social activity were associated with greater IL-10. Daily multivitamin intake was significantly correlated with IL-2. Conclusions. These results suggest that lifestyle factors including exercise may influence immune response to influenza immunization. The practice of regular, vigorous exercise was associated with enhanced immune response following influenza vaccination in older adults.

The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is a common component of fitness assessments of older adults; however, differing course configurations might affect 6MWT performance. It is unclear how comparable 2 different configurations are. To determine the comparability of 2 courses, 35 adults ≥65 years of age completed two 6MWT, once walking around a 20- by 5-yd outdoor rectangle and once on an indoor oval track (circumference 144.3 yd). Scores for the 2 tests were internally consistent (intraclass correlation coefficient = .95). The participants walked farther on the oval track than around the rectangle (639 ± 19 vs. 582 ± 16 yd; p < .0001), but responses to the rectangular configuration could be readily estimated using the equation 66.7 yd + 0.807 x (oval walking distance), R² = .85. Thus, withinparticipant responses are similar across both 6MWT, but the course configuration affects the distance walked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy young adult college students (N= 133) with Insomnia (n= 65) or No Insomnia (n= 68) were compared on influenza serum antibody levels pre- and four weeks postvaccination. Volunteers underwent structured clinical interviews for sleep disorders to ensure insomnia diagnoses, as well as psychiatric interviews, physical examinations, and drug testing to ensure comorbid health problems were not potential confounds. There were significant time (both groups had increases in antibody levels pre- to postvaccination) and group (Insomnia group had lower HI antibody levels overall) main effects, but the time × group interaction was nonsignificant. Exploratory analyses did find significant PSQI x Time (p < .001) and Insomnia Status × Time (p = .002) interaction effects. Results indicate insomnia may be a risk factor for lowered immunity to the influenza virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]