Does Allostatic Load in 50–89‐Year‐Olds Predict the Development of Frailty? Evidence From a National Longitudinal Study Over 12 Years

Arkesteijn, Marco, Bennett, Rachel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5780-8786, Davies, Jennifer L. and Sumner, Rachel C. (2026) Does Allostatic Load in 50–89‐Year‐Olds Predict the Development of Frailty? Evidence From a National Longitudinal Study Over 12 Years. Stress and Health, 42 (5). e70219. doi:10.1002/smi.70219

Preview

Text (Published version (Registered Report Stage 2)) 16514 Bennett (2026) Does allostatic load in 50-89 year olds report stage 2.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

Frailty is characterised by a loss of function across several domains but is not an inevitable aspect of ageing and can be reversed with intervention. Determining those who are more likely to become frail before physical deficits become manifest will allow earlier intervention. One promising indicator of the potential for frailty is allostatic load, a physiological status associated with prolonged stress that is characterised by multisystem dysfunction. Previous research has sought to understand the links between allostatic load and frailty, but has not yet explored whether allostatic load may be a predictive factor at younger ages. The present study examined whether allostatic load can be used as a predictive indicator of frailty. Using data from four waves of the English Longitudinal Survey on Ageing (ELSA) collected over 12 years with a sample of 3248 people between 50 and 89 years old at baseline, discrete time event history analysis was used to determine if allostatic load is associated with the onset of pre‐frailty and frailty. The findings indicate that allostatic load was a significant contributor to the occurrence of (pre‐)frailty. Age and sex did not interact with allostatic load and frailty predictions, whilst in particular social support was identified as a possible modifiable factor. Allostatic load determination should be considered as a possible screening tool for future frailty risk in currently non‐frail individuals.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Ageing populations; Allostatic overload; Healthy ageing; Registered report
Related records:	Registered Report Stage 1
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA407 Health status indicators.
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education, Health and Sciences
Depositing User:	Rhiannon Goodland
Date Deposited:	10 Sep 2026 07:53
Last Modified:	14 Sep 2026 08:00
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/16514

University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record