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Published on: June 18, 2014
The association between serum cortisol and cognitive decline in older persons
Hannie C Comijs1, Lotte Gerritsen, Brenda W J H Penninx
1Department of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, EMGO-institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. h.comijs@vumc.nl
Summary
High daytime cortisol levels are linked to poorer memory and slower information processing in older adults. However, these cortisol levels did not predict long-term cognitive decline over six years.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- Cortisol, a stress hormone, plays a role in cognitive function.
- Previous research suggests a link between cortisol and cognitive decline in aging.
- The specific impact of serum cortisol on cognitive performance and decline in the elderly requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between serum cortisol levels and cognitive performance in elderly individuals.
- To determine if cortisol levels predict cognitive decline over time.
- To explore whether age, sex, or depression status modify these associations.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LAser) with 1,154 participants aged 65-88.
- Repeated measurements of cognitive function (global, memory, processing speed) over 6 years.
- Baseline measurement of serum total cortisol (CRT) and corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) to compute the free cortisol index (FCI).
Main Results:
- Higher free cortisol index (FCI) was associated with poorer verbal learning performance in both men and women.
- In women, higher FCI was also linked to slower speed of information processing.
- Cortisol levels were not associated with cognitive decline over the 6-year follow-up period.
Conclusions:
- Daytime serum cortisol levels are associated with current cognitive function, specifically memory and processing speed.
- These findings suggest cortisol's impact on cognitive performance but not on long-term cognitive decline in the elderly.
- The study did not find significant differences in these associations based on age, sex, or depression status.
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