1. Introduction
Normal aging has a marked effect on immunity, with the cumulative evidence indicating that cell-mediated immunity consistently shows age-related decrements in function (Castle, 2000; Miller, 1996). Immune functioning is also susceptible to stress, with many of the same immune deficits as are observed in aging (Aderet al., 2001). In this review, we examine the evidence for the hypothesis that stress exacerbates the effects of aging on immune functioning, and that the immune consequences are lasting and deleterious.