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Cortisol and depression in pre-diagnosed and early stage Huntington's disease

Christopher A Shirbin1, Phyllis Chua, Andrew Churchyard

  • 1School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Australia.

Psychoneuroendocrinology
|October 1, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Huntington

Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases

Background:

  • Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction and depression are observed in Huntington's disease (HD) gene carriers and patients.
  • The link between HPA axis function and depression severity in pre-symptomatic and early-stage HD is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between HPA axis function and depression levels in pre-Huntington's disease (pre-HD) and early-HD.
  • To determine if HPA axis activity correlates with depressive symptomatology in early stages of HD.

Main Methods:

  • Salivary cortisol levels were measured over 24 hours in 20 controls, 20 pre-HD, and 17 early-HD participants.
  • Depression symptoms were assessed using the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology - Self-Report.
  • Cortisol concentrations were analyzed across different time points and in relation to depression status.

Main Results:

  • Non-depressed early-HD participants showed significantly lower morning cortisol levels compared to pre-HD and controls.
  • Early-HD participants with mild or greater depression symptoms had cortisol levels comparable to pre-HD and controls.
  • Cortisol levels in HD appear to be influenced by the presence or absence of depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Early-stage Huntington's disease may be associated with hypocortisolism.
  • Depression in early-HD can induce a hyperactive HPA axis response, normalizing cortisol levels.
  • Depressive symptomatology is a key factor in understanding HPA axis alterations in Huntington's disease.

Keywords:
CortisolDepressionHuntington's diseaseHypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axisSalivaStress

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