The HPA axis response to stress in women: effects of aging and fitness
Abstract
This study tested the hypotheses that aging is associated with greater hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity to psychological stress, and whether aerobic fitness is associated with a lower HPA axis response to psychological stress. Three groups, consisting of young-unfit women (27.9+/-2.5 yr, n=10), older-unfit women (66.3+/-1.4 yr, n=14), and older-fit women (66.6+/-2.0 yr, n=12), underwent the Matt Stress Reactivity Protocol (MSRP). The MSRP is a stress test battery that combines mental challenges, a physical challenge, and a psychosocial stressor. Definition of fitness was based on maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2max)) where unfit was defined as having VO(2max)</=average for the respective age group and fit was defined as VO(2max)>average for the respective age group. The MSRP elicited increases in heart rate, blood pressure, ACTH, and cortisol (P<0.001). The older-unfit women had significantly greater cortisol responses to the challenge than both the young-unfit and the older-fit women (P<0.05), who did not differ from each other. ACTH levels were significantly higher in the older-unfit women at baseline and throughout the trial, compared to both young-unfit and the older-fit (P<0.01). The ACTH response was not different between any of the groups. The young-unfit women had greater heart rate responses than the older-unfit (P<0.01), while the latter had greater systolic blood pressure responses (P<0.01). There were no significant differences between the older-unfit and older-fit in terms of heart rate or blood pressure responses. Our result shows that among unfit women, aging is associated with greater HPA axis reactivity to psychological stress, and that higher aerobic fitness among older women can attenuate these age-related changes as indicated by a blunted cortisol response to psychological stress. These findings suggest that exercise training may be an effective way of modifying some of the neuroendocrine changes associated with aging.
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Increased fitness and frequent aerobic exercise benefit the physiological responses to psychosocial stressors.
“While research has demonstrated the benefits of increased fitness and frequent aerobic exercise in terms of the physiological responses to psychosocial stressors (Puterman et al., 2012;Rimmele et al., 2009Rimmele et al., , 2007;;Traustadóttir et al., 2005), in this study we explored whether the intensity of a single bout of exercise alters the physiological impact of an acute psychosocial stressor”
From The effects of exercise intensity on the cortisol response to a subsequent acute psychosocial stressor. (2021) · cites this paper as Traustadóttir et al., 2005
The majority of studies with humans testing the cross-stressor adaptation hypothesis with exercise and psychological stressors have been quasi-experimental, comparing salivary cortisol released in response to a psychosocial stressor task in adults pre-selected for their fitness or activity levels.
“The majority of studies with humans testing this cross-stressor adaptation hypothesis with exercise and psychological stressors have been quasi-experimental, comparing sCort released in response to a psychosocial stressor task in adults pre-selected for their fitness or activity levels (Puterman et al., 2012;Rimmele et al., 2007Rimmele et al., , 2009;;Traustadóttir et al., 2005;Wunsch et al., 2019”
From The effects of exercise intensity on the cortisol response to a subsequent acute psychosocial stressor. (2021) · cites this paper as Traustadóttir et al., 2005
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“It has been suggested that the trajectory of aging could be related to individual differences in HPA axis alteration over time (McEwen, 1998).”
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“…and frequent aerobic exercise in terms of the physiological responses to psychosocial stressors (Puterman et al., 2012; Rimmele et al., 2009, 2007; Traustadóttir et al., 2005), in this study we explored whether the intensity of a single bout of exercise alters the physiological impact of an…”
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- Authors
- Traustadóttir, T., Bosch, P. R., & Matt, K. S.
- Affiliations
- Arizona State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Traustadóttir, Tinna
- Venue
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2005-05
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 392-402
- ISSN
- 0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2011027597
- Cited by
- 160
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 3.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
- Keywords
- hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, psychological stress, aging, cardiorespiratory fitness, cortisol, ACTH, heart rate, blood pressure, older women, exercise training
- MeSH terms
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Blood Pressure, Cold Temperature, Color Perception, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Interpersonal Relations, Mental Processes, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Oxygen Consumption, Physical Fitness, Pressure, Stress, Psychological
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