Peripheral biomarker composite associated with smaller hippocampal volume
Dorie A Glover1, Elena F Garcia-Aracena, Jan Mohlman
1Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Child Division, UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital, Los Angeles, California, USA. dglover@mednet.ucla.edu
Neuroreport
|August 13, 2008
Summary
Objective biomarkers for psychosocial stress correlate with hippocampal volume in women experiencing severe stress. This finding may aid in tracking brain changes related to stress and psychological symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Studies link stress to reduced hippocampal volume in humans and animals.
- Peripheral biomarkers can quantify psychosocial stress but haven't been correlated with hippocampal volume in high-stress populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between a composite index of peripheral stress biomarkers and hippocampal volume.
- To assess the utility of objective stress quantification in relation to brain structure in a high-stress group.
Main Methods:
- Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure hippocampal volume.
- A composite index of biomarkers (cardiovascular, HPA axis, glucose metabolism, sympathetic nervous system) was calculated.
- 30 healthy women with children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses were studied.
Main Results:
- Hippocampal volume was significantly predicted by age, time since stressor onset, and the composite biomarker index.
- The composite biomarker index demonstrated a significant association with hippocampal volume.
Conclusions:
- An objective biomarker index shows potential for tracking brain changes associated with stress.
- This approach has implications for understanding stress-related psychological symptoms in basic and clinical research.
