Optimism in Relation to Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in Older Men: The VA Normative Aging Study
Abstract
Background Recent research suggests that optimism may reduce the risk of incident cardiovascular disease, but the mechanisms have not been determined. This study examines the association of optimism with change in inflammation and endothelial function over time in men. Methods Longitudinal data were obtained from the Normative Aging Study excluding men with preexisting coronary heart disease or active infection at the time optimism was assessed (n = 340; mean [standard deviation] age = 70.9 [6.7] years). The Life Orientation Test was used to measure optimism, and serum markers were used to measure inflammation and endothelial dysfunction and were obtained repeatedly during the course of the study (1999-2008). These markers included high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II. Within this sample, 243 men (71%) had two or more repeated measures of each outcome, resulting in a total of 746 observations for analysis. Linear mixed-effects models with a random subject intercept were used to estimate associations. Results Higher overall optimism scores were associated with lower levels of interleukin 6 and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 pooled across multiple time points in multivariable models but were not associated with rate of change in these markers over time. Analyses considering separate effects of optimism and pessimism subsca…
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Some, but not all, other studies have found relationships between positive psychological factors and healthy immune response or lower levels of inflammation.
“Some, but not all, other studies have similarly found relationships between positive psychological factors and healthy immune response or lower levels of inflammation. 54,133-135”
From Psychological Health, Well-Being, and the Mind-Heart-Body Connection: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2021) · cites this paper as [134]
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- Authors
- Ikeda, A., Schwartz, J., Peters, J. L., Fang, S., Spiro, A., Sparrow, D., Vokonas, P., & Kubzansky, L. D.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Boston University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kubzansky, Laura D.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Published
- 2011-10
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 664-671
- ISSN
- 0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2048681865
- Cited by
- 93
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 6.42
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (R01AG018436, R01AG013006)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Health and Disease Prevention
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Health and Mental Health
- Keywords
- optimism, pessimism, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, older men, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II, cardiovascular risk, Life Orientation Test, aging
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Endothelium, Vascular, Humans, Inflammation, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, United States, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Young Adult
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