Psychosom Med. 2003 Sep-Oct;65(5):824-30. PubMed abstracts
Effects of a behavioral intervention, tai chi chih, on varicella-zoster
virus specific immunity and health functioning in older adults.
Irwin MR, Pike JL, Cole JC, Oxman MN.
Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunonology (M.R.I., J.L.P., J.C.C.), UCLA
Neuropsychiatric Institute, University of California, Los Angeles.
OBJECTIVE: Both the incidence and severity of herpes zoster (shingles)
increase markedly with increasing age in association with a decline in
varicella-zoster virus (VZV) specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI). This
study examined whether a behavioral intervention, Tai Chi Chih (TCC),
affects VZV specific immunity and health functioning in older adults who, on
average, show impairments of health status and are at risk for shingles.
METHODS: Thirty-six men and women (age >/==" BORDER="0">60 years) were
assigned randomly to a 15-week program of TCC instruction (three 45 minute
classes per week; N = 18) or a wait list control condition (N = 18).
VZV-specific CMI was measured at baseline and at 1-week postintervention.
Health functioning (Medical Outcome scale: SF-36) was assessed at baseline,
and at 5, 10, and 15 weeks during the intervention, and at 1-week
postintervention. RESULTS: In the intent-to-treat sample, VZV-specific CMI
increased 50% from baseline to 1-week postintervention in the TCC group (p <
0.05) but was unchanged in the wait list control group. In those who
completed the study, 1-week postintervention SF-36 scale scores for
role-physical (p < 0.05) and physical functioning (p < 0.05) were higher in
the TCC group (N = 14) as compared with controls (N = 17). Older adults who
had impairments of physical status at baseline showed the greatest increases
of SF-36 role-physical (p < 0.01) and physical functioning (p < 0.001)
during the TCC intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of TCC for 15 weeks
led to an increase in VZV-specific CMI. Gains in health functioning were
found in participants who received TCC and were most marked in those older
adults who had the greatest impairments of health status.
via Lou Sportelli, DC...
http://www.chiroweb.com/columnist/sportelli/index.html