What is the Origin of Resilience against Stress?

The concept of 'resilience' is borrowed from material science and psychology, referring to the ability to spring back into shape, and has been adopted by physiology to describe homeostatic robustness. In endocrinology, it specifically relates to the dynamic integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system. It represents a functional assessment of the body's ability to manage and minimize allostatic load.

What is the Mechanism of Resilience against Stress?

Resilience is fundamentally mediated by the dynamic interplay between the adrenal axis and the autonomic nervous system. Optimal function involves a rapid and appropriate surge of cortisol and adrenaline to mobilize resources, followed by an efficient negative feedback loop that quickly terminates the response, preventing chronic elevation of stress hormones. Furthermore, robust immune function and cellular repair mechanisms contribute to the system's ability to withstand and rapidly recover from damage induced by stressors.

Resilience against Stress

Meaning

The physiological capacity of the human system, particularly the neuroendocrine and immune systems, to maintain or rapidly return to a state of stable function and optimal hormonal balance when confronted with internal or external perturbations. This resilience is a measure of adaptive capacity, indicating a robust stress response that is proportional to the challenge and a swift, efficient recovery phase. High resilience is a hallmark of youthful hormonal health and longevity, preserving functional integrity under duress.