Problems Associated with Caregiving

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They found evidence that the stress of nursing a family member -- in

this case, patients with Alzheimer's disease (news - web sites) --

can damage the immune system, leading to disease and early death.

 

In particular, a chemical called interleukin-6 goes into overdrive

in stressed-out caregivers, the team at Ohio State University

College of Medicine and University of North Carolina report in this

week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

(news - web sites).

 

" Overproduction of IL-6 ... is associated with a spectrum of age-

related conditions including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis,

arthritis, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, periodontal disease,

frailty and functional decline, " the researchers wrote.