Glucocorticoid therapy-induced memory deficits: acute versus chronic effects
Daniel Coluccia1, Oliver T Wolf, Spyros Kollias
1Department of Psychiatry Research, University of Zürich, 8032 Zürich, Switzerland.
Summary
Chronic glucocorticoid exposure, like prednisone, does not harm memory or the hippocampus long-term. However, acute steroid use temporarily impairs memory retrieval, suggesting this is key to deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Psychology
Background:
- Chronically high glucocorticoid levels are linked to declarative memory deficits.
- Long-term glucocorticoid exposure may impair cognition through hippocampal effects.
- Acute glucocorticoid increases during testing can also impair memory retrieval.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if chronic prednisone treatment affects memory and hippocampal volume.
- To determine if acute glucocorticoid levels during testing contribute to memory deficits in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Main Methods:
- Studied 24 rheumatoid arthritis patients on chronic prednisone or no steroids.
- Assessed delayed word recall under elevated or basal glucocorticoid levels using a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design.
- Measured hippocampal volume.
Main Results:
- No evidence of long-term harmful effects of chronic prednisone on memory or hippocampal volume.
- Acute prednisone administration before testing impaired word recall in both groups.
- Memory deficits were linked to acute, reversible glucocorticoid effects on retrieval.
Conclusions:
- Memory deficits under chronic elevated glucocorticoids are partly due to acute, reversible effects on retrieval.
- Prednisone's impact on memory appears primarily acute rather than a result of long-term cumulative damage.
- Further research on the mechanisms of acute glucocorticoid effects on memory retrieval is warranted.
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