Homeostatic Resilience
Definition
Homeostatic resilience is the capacity of a biological system to maintain or restore internal stability after a stressor, injury, illness, or other challenge. In ageing research, it refers to how well cells, tissues, organs, or whole organisms recover after being pushed away from their usual physiological state. [1] [2]
Why It Matters in Ageing Research
Ageing is often associated with reduced reserve and slower recovery after biological stress. Homeostatic resilience is therefore important because it focuses on dynamic recovery, not only on a single baseline measurement. This makes it relevant to research on frailty, physiological reserve, intrinsic capacity, stress responses, and healthspan. [2] [3]
Common Confusion
- Homeostatic resilience is not the same as homeostasis; it refers to the ability to recover homeostasis after challenge.
- It is not limited to psychological resilience, although the terms can overlap in broader ageing research.
- It is not simply the absence of disease; two people with similar baseline health can differ in recovery after stress.
Related Reading
References
- Dantzer, B., Westrick, S. E., & van Kesteren, F. (2022). Resilience integrates concepts in aging research. iScience. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9044173/
- Ukraintseva, S., Yashin, A. I., Arbeev, K. G., et al. (2021). Decline in biological resilience as key manifestation of aging. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047637420302141
- Whitson, H. E., Duan-Porter, W., Schmader, K. E., et al. (2016). Physical resilience in older adults: systematic review and development of an emerging construct. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/71/4/489/2605404
This glossary entry is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.