@article {6499, title = {Survival Advantage Mechanism: Inflammation as a Mediator of Positive Self-Perceptions of Aging on Longevity.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {73}, year = {2018}, note = {10.1093/geronb/gbw035}, month = {2018 Mar 02}, pages = {409-412}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have found that positive self-perceptions of aging (SPA) are associated with longer survival; however, a biological mechanism was unknown. We examined whether C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of cumulative stress-related inflammation, mediates the relationship between SPA and survival.

METHOD: The SPA of participants aged 50 and older in the Health and Retirement Study (N = 4,149) were assessed at baseline. Inflammation was measured by the level of CRP 4 years later. Survival was followed for up to 6 years.

RESULTS: As hypothesized, CRP mediated the impact of SPA on survival. Following the steps of a mediation analysis, positive SPA at baseline predicted lower CRP after 4 years (β = -.29, p = .03) and longer survival in the 2 years following the CRP measurement (β = .20, p =.003); additionally, lower CRP predicted longer survival, after adjusting for positive SPA (β = -.02, p = .0001). All models adjusted for baseline age, CRP, health, sex, race, and education.

DISCUSSION: It was found that lower CRP partially mediates the relationship between positive SPA and longer survival. Hence, this study presents a novel pathway to explain the process by which positive SPA extend longevity.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Biomarkers, C-reactive protein, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Longevity, Male, Middle Aged, Self Concept, Surveys and Questionnaires, Survival Analysis}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbw035}, url = {http://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/03/26/geronb.gbw035.abstractN2 -}, author = {Becca R Levy and Bavishi, Avni} }