Psychoneuromicrobiology: Cytomegalovirus infection as a putative link between stress, aging, and immunity

Epidemiological evidence demonstrates increased morbidity and mortality in populations exposed to adverse psychosocial factors such as low socio-economic status and protracted psychological distress (Cohen and Herbert, Annu Rev Psychol 47:113-142, 1996; House et al., Science 241:540-545, 1988; Marmot, Lancet 365(9464):1099-1104, 2005; Schneiderman et al., Annu Rev Clin Psychol 1:607-628, 2005). While the data are clear, the precise mechanisms underlying these associations are yet to be determined (Antoni et al., Nat Rev Cancer 6(3):240-248, 2006; Cacioppo and Hawkley, Perspect Biol Med 46(3 Suppl):S39-52, 2003; Glaser and Kiecolt-Glaser, Nat Rev Immunol 5(3):243-251, 2005; McEwen, N Engl J Med 338(3):171-179, 1998; Uchino et al., Psychol Bull 119(3):488-531, 1996). We, and others, have argued that since increasing age is a major risk factor for a wide range of chronic diseases, the aging process itself may be an important target for such mechanistic research (Bosch et al., Brain Behav Immun 23(4):527-534, 2009; Nilsson, Med Hypotheses 47(1):39-42, 1996).