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Allostatic Load Model

Meaning

The Allostatic Load Model serves as a cumulative measure of the physiological wear and tear sustained by the body’s systems due to chronic or repeated stress and the resulting adaptive efforts to maintain stability, known as allostasis. This framework quantifies the long-term impact of stress mediators like cortisol and catecholamines on critical homeostatic systems, including cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune function. Clinically, an elevated allostatic load is a powerful prognostic indicator of accelerated biological aging and a significantly increased risk for future chronic disease. It represents the cost of survival when adaptive capacity is persistently taxed.