Psychosocial Factors, Exercise, and Immunity: Athletes, Elderly Persons, and AIDS Patients

Abstract

Maximal bicycle ergometry exercise increases natural killer (NK) cell activity and numbers in both healthy old and young persons to equivalent degree but with greater variability in the old. Exercise-induced increase in NK activity, but not numbers, is blocked by the opioid antagonist naloxone. Lactating females do not show exercise-induced augmentation of NK cell activity. A predisposition to autoimmune disease, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, may exist among athletes, and disease may ensue when athleticism ceases. Long-term survivors with AIDS generally engage in physical fitness/exercise programs.

Key words

AIDS - athletes - elderly - exercise - immunity