Stress and Healthy Longevity vs. Aging

Abstract

Stress is defined as a disturbance in the dynamic equilibrium or homeostasis of a complex system, such as the human organism. A stressor is the force that causes this disturbance, while the adaptive response is the internal force that restores its homeostasis to the normal level. In humans, the adaptive response is mediated by a specialized system in the brain and body, known as the stress system, which is activated in a time-limited fashion to help us cope with stress when a stressor of any type exceeds a certain threshold. Chronic activation of the stress system unfortunately causes the chronic stress and inflammation syndrome, which represents the background of all the chronic noncommunicable diseases, renders the organism vulnerable to certain infections and accelerates aging. Aging is a complex biological process influenced by genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, ultimately leading to a gradual decline in cellular and organ function and finally death. There is evidence of genetically programmed aging, including a theoretical lifespan of up to 130 years, defined by the regenerative limits of adult stem cells. There are two periods, during the fifth and seventh decades of life, when aging appears to accelerate, likely due to genetically timed epigenetic shifts. We know of over 10 discrete molecular mechanisms of aging and all of them are worsened by the presence of chronic stress.