The efficiency and robustness of the neuroendocrine and cellular pathways that allow an organism to precisely sense, appropriately respond to, and fully recover from various physiological and psychological stressors while maintaining core homeostatic balance. High resilience signaling is characterized by a rapid, appropriate activation of the stress response followed by an equally swift and complete deactivation. This critical capacity prevents the cumulative burden of allostatic load, which is a major contributor to age-related chronic disease.
Origin
This term is rooted in the concepts of ‘allostasis’ and ‘resilience’ from stress physiology and psychoneuroendocrinology. ‘Signaling’ refers to the intricate communication pathways, primarily involving the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system. The clinical focus is on the quality of the adaptive response and recovery kinetics, rather than merely the magnitude of the stressor itself.
Mechanism
The primary mechanism involves the precise, rapid negative feedback regulation of the HPA axis by circulating glucocorticoids at the level of the hypothalamus and pituitary. Effective signaling ensures that the release of cortisol is rapidly curtailed once the acute stressor is resolved, thereby preventing chronic overexposure. Furthermore, robust cellular resilience involves the transcriptional upregulation of protective molecules like heat shock proteins and potent antioxidant enzymes to safeguard cells from stress-induced damage.
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