Cited by 1,368Health disparities and outcomesAging and Gerontology ResearchHealth, psychology, and well-being

Price of Adaptation—Allostatic Load and Its Health Consequences: MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging

Seeman, Teresa E.·1997·Archives of Internal Medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exponential growth in the population of older adults presents clinicians with special concerns about factors affecting risks for declines in cognitive and physical functioning. OBJECTIVES: To examine the hypothesis that risks for such declines and for disease outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease, are related to differences in allostatic load, the cumulative physiologic toll exacted on the body over time by efforts to adapt to life experiences. To present an operational definition of allostatic load, along with preliminary evidence of its predictive validity in relation to salient outcomes of aging. METHODS: Data from a longitudinal, community-based study of successful aging were used to develop a measure of allostatic load based on 10 parameters reflecting levels of physiologic activity across a range of important regulatory systems. Allostatic load is the sum of the number of parameters for which the subject was rated in the highest-risk quartile. RESULTS: Higher allostatic load scores were associated with poorer cognitive and physical functioning and predicted larger decrements in cognitive and physical functioning as well as being associated with an increased risk for the incidence of cardiovascular disease, independent of sociodemographic and health status risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Findings are consistent with the conceptualization of allostatic load as an index of wear and tear on the body, with elevations in allostatic load predicting an increased risk for a decline in cognitive and physical functioning as well as cardiovascular disease in a cohort of older men and women. From a clinical perspective, the concept of allostatic load may provide the basis for a more comprehensive assessment of major risks in the aging process.

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Crossref · 10.1001/archinte.1997.00440400111013

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  • Higher allostatic load (AL) scores were associated with poorer cognitive and physical functioning, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases independent of sociodemographic risk factors.

    “A landmark study showed that higher AL scores were associated with poorer cognitive and physical functioning, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases independent of sociodemographic risk factors [119].”
  • The associations between baseline allostatic load and major outcomes were found over an initial 2.5-year follow-up and a longer 7-year follow-up.

    “These associations were found both with respect to an initial 2.5 year follow-up period 176 as well as a longer 7-year period, 164”

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Authors
Seeman, T. E.
Affiliations
University of Southern California (US)
Corresponding author
Seeman, Teresa E.
Venue
Archives of Internal Medicine
Published
1997-10-27
Volume
157
Issue
19
Pages
2259
ISSN
0003-9926 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2052143620
Cited by
1,368
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 60 · 2025: 77 · 2024: 56 · 2023: 83 · 2022: 77 · 2021: 59 · 2020: 66 · 2019: 65 · 2018: 55 · 2017: 49 · 2016: 73 · 2015: 69 · 2014: 60 · 2013: 42 · 2012: 52
FWCI
14.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of Internal Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Aging (AG00586)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health, psychology, and well-being
Keywords
allostatic load, successful aging, cognitive decline, cardiovascular risk, older adults, aging, aging biomarkers
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Physiological, Adaptation, Psychological, Aged, Aging, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cognition Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Risk

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