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Salivary cortisol and memory function in human aging.

Ge Li·Monique M Cherrier·Debby W Tsuang·Eric C Petrie·Elizabeth A Colasurdo·Suzanne Craft·Gerard D Schellenberg·Elaine R Peskind·Murray A Raskind·Charles W Wilkinson
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of salivary cortisol with cognitive changes in a 3 year longitudinal study. Previous studies have suggested that elevated glucocorticoid concentrations alter hippocampal neuronal morphology, inhibit neurogenesis, and impair cognition. METHODS: Salivary cortisol samples were collected at home by 79 cognitively intact older persons (mean age 78+/-7 years) at 08:00, 15:00 and 23:00h, and collections were repeated annually for 3 years. Cognitive function was also assessed annually. RESULTS: The mean cortisol level of samples taken at three times of day and the cortisol concentration at 23:00h were significantly associated with poorer performance on tasks of declarative memory and executive function. Of 46 subjects who completed the entire 3 year study, higher initial cortisol concentration at 23:00h predicted a decline in performance of delayed paragraph recall. CONCLUSION: These results partially confirm previous findings that high cortisol is associated with impaired declarative memory function in non-demented older persons. In addition, our data show that high salivary cortisol concentrations predict a decline in memory function over the next 3 years.

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AgedAged, 80 and overAgingCognitionFemaleHumansHydrocortisoneHypothalamo-Hypophyseal SystemLongitudinal StudiesMaleMemoryPituitary-Adrenal SystemSalivaJournal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

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Ge Li, Monique M Cherrier, Debby W Tsuang, Eric C Petrie, Elizabeth A Colasurdo, Suzanne Craft, Gerard D Schellenberg, Elaine R Peskind, Murray A Raskind, Charles W Wilkinson. 2005-11-04. Salivary cortisol and memory function in human aging.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2005.09.031

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