What is the Origin of Allostatic Load?

The concept of allostasis was introduced in 1988 by Sterling and Eyer, referring to the process of achieving stability through physiological or behavioral change. The term Allostatic Load was later coined by McEwen and Stellar in 1993 to quantify the physiological consequences of chronic stress and allostatic dysregulation. This framework shifted the focus from simple homeostasis to dynamic adaptation within the endocrine and nervous systems.

What is the Mechanism of Allostatic Load?

The load accumulates through persistent activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system, leading to sustained high levels of cortisol, catecholamines, and inflammatory cytokines. These mediators, while acutely protective, become damaging when chronically elevated, impacting metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune function. Ultimately, this leads to structural and functional changes in tissues, marking the transition from adaptive response to pathological state.

Allostatic Load

Meaning

The cumulative wear and tear on the body’s systems due to chronic overactivity or underactivity of physiological mediators, particularly those involved in the stress response. This represents the long-term cost of the body’s attempts to maintain stability, or allostasis, in the face of repeated or chronic stressors. Clinically, an elevated allostatic load is a measurable indicator of systemic dysregulation that can predispose an individual to various cardiometabolic and neuroendocrine disorders.

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