Stress, immune function, and cellular aging among parents of children with and without cancer or brain tumors

Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationships among stress, immune function, and aging among parents of children with and without cancer or brain tumors.

Methods: Parents of children ages 2-18 with (n=71; “cases”) and without (n=124) cancer or brain tumors completed in-person interviewer-assisted surveys assessing sociodemographics and symptoms of stress. Parents also provided blood samples, and immune function biomarkers (C-Reactive Protein, Epstein-Barr Virus antibody titers, and Interleukin-6) were assayed. Telomere length was evaluated among a sub-sample of cases (n=50). Multivariable regression analyses were used to determine 1) the relationships between caring for a child with cancer and immune function biomarkers, 2) if and to what extent this association was mediated by symptoms of stress, and 3) the relationship between symptoms of stress and telomere length.

Results: Case status was not associated with continuous measures of individual immune biomarkers; however, parents of children with cancer were more likely to have elevated levels of two or more immune function biomarkers (OR: 2.29, 90% CI: 1.18-4.42). This relationship was significantly mediated by symptoms of stress, specifically cardiopulmonary, neurological/gastrointestinal, and upper respiratory symptoms. Cases' symptoms of stress were not associated with shorter telomere length.

Conclusions: Stress related to caring for a child with cancer may result in cumulative, deleterious pathophysiological changes for parents. These results suggest a possible biological link by which caregivers' long-term health may be adversely affected. Continued monitoring of the biopsychosocial well-being of these families is warranted.