Attitudes and antibodies

[Guest guest]

http://www.healthwell.com/news/index.cfm?news=1379

Attitude and Immunity: Do Bad Thoughts Make Us Sick?

Negative emotional responses to particular events and negative

thoughts

appear to suppress the immune response to influenza virus, according

to a

new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

(2003;100:11148–52). The new study adds to the growing body of

evidence

suggesting that negative thoughts and emotions may lower immune

function and

lead to more frequent illness.

In the new study, 52 healthy adults between the ages of 57 and 60

years were

vaccinated with influenza virus vaccine. Levels of antibodies to

influenza

virus were measured initially and at two, four and six months after

receiving the vaccine. Prior to measuring antibody levels,

participants were

asked to recall an extremely positive or negative experience in their

lives

and then write about it for five minutes. Electroencephalograms

(EEGs, which

measure brain wave activity) and startle reflex (eyes closing to a

loud

noise) were performed on each person shortly after this exercise. The

emotional attitude (affect) of the individual was reflected by

whether the

person wrote about a positive or negative event.

Those with a negative affect were found to have a larger startle

reflex and

overall lower antibody responses to influenza virus compared with

those with

a positive affect. The greater the startle magnitude, the lower the

antibody

level. The EEG pattern in the negative affect individuals showed a

specific

part of the brain (right-prefrontal cortex) was more active, compared

with

those with a positive affect who had greater activity in a different

part of

the brain (left-prefrontal cortex). Although the relationship between

brain

wave activity and immunity is not clear, the findings suggest that

certain

parts of the brain may play a role in activating the immune response.

Studies have clearly demonstrated that thoughts, emotions, and

attitude can

affect how the body responds to stressful events and infection.

However, the

biochemical and physiological mechanisms involved are poorly

understood. One

study showed that caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease is

associated

with a diminished immune response to influenza virus, poor wound

healing,

and increases in proinflammatory chemicals in the body. Other studies

suggest anxiety and emotional stress may cause a decrease in natural

killer

cell activity. (Killer cells are one of the first responders in

infection

and help eradicate cells that start to change and become cancerous.)

The immune system is a complicated web of organs, cells, and

chemicals that

is carefully orchestrated to protect the body against foreign

particles and

microbes. While more research is clearly needed to clarify these

intricate

interactions, having a good attitude may be an important key to

better

health.

Lilian

" Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread

within it.

Whatever we do to the web we do to ourselves. All things are bound

together.

All things connect. "

-Chief Seattle

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