Allostasis, as stability through change, is a notion that expands on the concept of homeostasis. Allostasis refers to an organism's or biological system's ability to adjust to daily challenges via feedforward mechanisms that ensure vitality. As a result, it argues that optimal control of a biological system necessitates the ability to forecast needs/stress and create plans to fulfill them in advance of their occurrence. In this regard, stress is the response to internal or external events, known as stressors, that create severe disruptions beyond the typical physiological response, such as arousal. These disruptions are caused by physiological receptors and secondary messengers that control internal alterations.
Allostasis is a scenario in which the body balances multiple physiological processes to preserve equilibrium in response to persistent stress. Prolonged and excessive stimulation, for example, excessive caloric intake, sedentary behavior, etc., causes changes in multiple physiological parameters within human physiology to effectively manage persistent demands and sustain stability, even beyond the normal range of homeostasis, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia. It is important to note that this protective response for predictive regulation, known as an allostatic state, can have negative, e.g., non-communicable diseases (NCDs), or positive, physical activity-related health benefits, effects depending on the repeated chronic stimuli.
When adaptive reactions to a challenge are consistently outside of the regular operating ranges, the regulatory systems suffer, resulting in a penalty for adaptation. Allostatic load refers to this burden, which indicates the continuing operation of the allostatic state or over-activation of allostatic reactions. If this stress remains at high levels over time, it can cause disease and even death, a condition known as allostatic overload. Allostatic overload has recently been defined as "long-term energy-dependent functional and/or structural dysregulation and breakdown that arise as a result of chronic allostatic load, leading to accelerated aging, disease onset and progression, and increased mortality risk". The chronic stress-NCD cascade, for example, implies that responses to both actual and perceived stresses launch an energy-dependent process that moves from adaptive allostasis to allostatic states, eventually resulting in allostatic overload. This increases the risk of diseases including cardiovascular disease and stroke, as well as diabetes, and can hasten aging. These alterations can result in quantifiable biomarkers, becoming clinical signs and symptoms.
Thus, the purpose of this Frontiers Research Topic is to publish the latest research findings on the convergence between allostatic load, health, and disease. We encourage colleagues from around the world to submit their original articles, experimental mechanistic studies, epidemiological studies, and systematic reviews with meta-analyses.
List of the topics to be covered:
• Assessment of the allostatic load and overload
• Allostasis and stress-related energy expenditure
• Individual and population adaptive responses
• Sex-based differences on the adaptation process
• Physiological circuits of interoception
• Adaptive response after exercise, nutrition, and sleep interventions
Six succinct keywords or MeSH terms that reflect the key themes of the collection (optional):
• Healthy lifestyle
• Physiological stress response
• Nutrition and dietary supplements
• Physical activity and exercise
• Systems biology
Keywords:
allostasis, physiology, physiological balance, adaptation, integrative approach
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Allostasis, as stability through change, is a notion that expands on the concept of homeostasis. Allostasis refers to an organism's or biological system's ability to adjust to daily challenges via feedforward mechanisms that ensure vitality. As a result, it argues that optimal control of a biological system necessitates the ability to forecast needs/stress and create plans to fulfill them in advance of their occurrence. In this regard, stress is the response to internal or external events, known as stressors, that create severe disruptions beyond the typical physiological response, such as arousal. These disruptions are caused by physiological receptors and secondary messengers that control internal alterations.
Allostasis is a scenario in which the body balances multiple physiological processes to preserve equilibrium in response to persistent stress. Prolonged and excessive stimulation, for example, excessive caloric intake, sedentary behavior, etc., causes changes in multiple physiological parameters within human physiology to effectively manage persistent demands and sustain stability, even beyond the normal range of homeostasis, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia. It is important to note that this protective response for predictive regulation, known as an allostatic state, can have negative, e.g., non-communicable diseases (NCDs), or positive, physical activity-related health benefits, effects depending on the repeated chronic stimuli.
When adaptive reactions to a challenge are consistently outside of the regular operating ranges, the regulatory systems suffer, resulting in a penalty for adaptation. Allostatic load refers to this burden, which indicates the continuing operation of the allostatic state or over-activation of allostatic reactions. If this stress remains at high levels over time, it can cause disease and even death, a condition known as allostatic overload. Allostatic overload has recently been defined as "long-term energy-dependent functional and/or structural dysregulation and breakdown that arise as a result of chronic allostatic load, leading to accelerated aging, disease onset and progression, and increased mortality risk". The chronic stress-NCD cascade, for example, implies that responses to both actual and perceived stresses launch an energy-dependent process that moves from adaptive allostasis to allostatic states, eventually resulting in allostatic overload. This increases the risk of diseases including cardiovascular disease and stroke, as well as diabetes, and can hasten aging. These alterations can result in quantifiable biomarkers, becoming clinical signs and symptoms.
Thus, the purpose of this Frontiers Research Topic is to publish the latest research findings on the convergence between allostatic load, health, and disease. We encourage colleagues from around the world to submit their original articles, experimental mechanistic studies, epidemiological studies, and systematic reviews with meta-analyses.
List of the topics to be covered:
• Assessment of the allostatic load and overload
• Allostasis and stress-related energy expenditure
• Individual and population adaptive responses
• Sex-based differences on the adaptation process
• Physiological circuits of interoception
• Adaptive response after exercise, nutrition, and sleep interventions
Six succinct keywords or MeSH terms that reflect the key themes of the collection (optional):
• Healthy lifestyle
• Physiological stress response
• Nutrition and dietary supplements
• Physical activity and exercise
• Systems biology
Keywords:
allostasis, physiology, physiological balance, adaptation, integrative approach
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.