Stress Hormone Affects Immune System

A new UCLA study suggests the decline in an individual’s immune system after facing chronic stress is due to the stress hormone cortisol. Scientists found that cortisol suppresses immune cells’ ability to activate their telomerase, an enzyme within the cell that keeps immune cells young by preserving their telomere length and ability to continue dividing.

Every cell contains a tiny clock called a telomere, which shortens each time the cell divides. Short telomeres are linked to a range of human diseases, including HIV, osteoporosis, heart disease and aging. Read More