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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #201729

Title: Biomarkers of psychological stress in health disparities research

Author
item DJURIC, ZORA - UNIV MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR
item BIRD, CHLOE - RAND CORPORATION, CA
item FURUMOTO-DAWSON, ALICE - UNIV CHICAGO, CHICAGO, IL
item RAUSCHER, GARTH - UNIV ILLINOIS, CHICAGO,IL
item RUFFIN, MACK - UNIV MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR
item STOWE, RAYMOND - MICROGEN LABS, LA MARQUE
item Tucker, Katherine
item MASI, CHRISTOPHER - UNIV CHICAGO, CHICAGO, IL

Submitted to: The Open Biomarkers Journal
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/2008
Publication Date: 9/1/2008
Citation: Djuric, Z., Bird, C.E., Furumoto-Dawson, A., Rauscher, G.H., Ruffin, M.T., Stowe, R.P., Tucker, K., Masi, C.M. 2008. Biomarkers of psychological stress in health disparities research. The Open Biomarkers Journal. 1:7-19.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Health disparities in the United States have been documented in population groups defined by SES, ethnicity and/or race. The etiology of these health disparities is multifacted and complex. While some factors, such as access to care, may have obvious effects on health, the contribution of psychological stress to health and health disparities is less obvious. Psychological stress can stem from factors at the individual-level, such as ability to cope with challenges, and social level, such as those stemming from various aspects of neighborhood environments. Psychological stress from multiple sources in disadvantaged population groups can therefore recur over time. The cumulative biological burden of attempts to adapt to daily stress has been termed allostatic load. Specific biological measures of allostatic load have been defined as the effects on the hypothalmic-pituitary axis, the symathetic nervous system and the cardiovascular system. These in turn affect the immune system via bidirectional signaling pathways. Current research is investigating specific psychological and lifestyle factors that can affect allostatic load and immune function in populations subject to health disparities. Evidence is also building that psychological stress, perhaps mediated via heightened inflammatory states, can increase oxidative stress levels and DNA damage. The inter-relationships of ethnicity, genotype, gene expression and ability to adequately mitigate stress response are just starting to be appreciated. The need to conduct these studies in disadvantaged populations is clear, but such studies require development of methods to address potential logistical barriers related to sample collection, processing and shipping. In order to fully understand the etiology of health disparities, the biological impact of psychological stress must be characterized and quantified.