Análise de parâmetros psiconeuroimunológicos em longevos saudáveis

Abstract

Healthy aging is characterized by the ability of the immune system in preserve some of their functions intact, avoiding the appearance of some age-related diseases and thus contributing to reaching longevity. Furthermore, healthy aging is associated to a better stress coping. Studies have demonstrated immunological changes occurred in old individuals, as well as the consequences of stress on aging. However, few studies have addressed such changes in very old subjects. Here, we analyzed emotional factors and the changes in the lymphocytes subpopulations involved on aging, and the role of these changes to reach longevity healthily. A group of twenty healthy very old subjects together with a group of healthy old individuals and a groups of healthy young adults were recruited in this study. Stress levels were assessed by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), while depression levels were investigated by Beck Depression Inventories II (BDI-II). Lymphocytes were isolated and assessed by flow cytometry. We observed some age-related changes in lymphocyte subpopulations. In particular, it was evidenced a similar CD4/CD8 ratio between very old subjects and young adults, with this rate being increased in old subjects. A significant increase in the percentage of Natural Killer cells (CD56+CD16+) was observed in the very old subjects, showing that the activity of these cells is well preserved in this group of subjects. Also, we noticed that very old subjects are less stressed, when compared to the other groups. Our data suggests that the combination between increasing and decreasing specific immune functions may generate a balance in the immune system, contributing to reach longevity healthily.