Psychosom Med. 2003 Sep-Oct;65(5):824-30. PubMed abstracts
Effects of a behavioral intervention, tai chi chih, on varicella-zoster virus specific immunity and
health functioning in older adults.
Irwin MR, Pike JL, Cole JC, Oxman MN.
Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunonology (M.R.I., J.L.P., J.C.C.), UCLA Neuropsychiatric
Institute, University of California, Los Angeles.
OBJECTIVE: Both the incidence and severity of herpes zoster (shingles) increase markedly with
increasing age in association with a decline in varicella-zoster virus (VZV) specific cell-mediated
immunity (CMI). This study examined whether a behavioral intervention, Tai Chi Chih (TCC), affects
VZV specific immunity and health functioning in older adults who, on average, show impairments of
health status and are at risk for shingles. METHODS: Thirty-six men and women (age >/=="
BORDER="0">60 years) were assigned randomly to a 15-week program of TCC instruction (three 45 minute
classes per week; N = 18) or a wait list control condition (N = 18). VZV-specific CMI was measured
at baseline and at 1-week postintervention. Health functioning (Medical Outcome scale: SF-36) was
assessed at baseline, and at 5, 10, and 15 weeks during the intervention, and at 1-week
postintervention. RESULTS: In the intent-to-treat sample, VZV-specific CMI increased 50% from
baseline to 1-week postintervention in the TCC group (p < .05) but was unchanged in the wait list
control group. In those who completed the study, 1-week postintervention SF-36 scale scores for role-
physical (p < 0.05) and physical functioning (p < 0.05) were higher in the TCC group (N = 14) as
compared with controls (N = 17). Older adults who had impairments of physical status at baseline
showed the greatest increases of SF-36 role-physical (p < 0.01) and physical functioning (p < 0.001)
during the TCC intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of TCC for 15 weeks led to an increase in
VZV-specific CMI. Gains in health functioning were found in participants who received TCC and were
most marked in those older adults who had the greatest impairments of health status.
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