Cortisol, DHEA, and depression in the elderly: the influence of physical capacity

Major depression have been associated with cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) changes in old depressed patients. We examined the association between depression, cortisol, and DHEA, correcting for confounding variables, including physical capacity. In addition, the association between hormone levels and physical capacity in these two experimental groups was also analyzed.

Depressed patients (n = 32) and healthy control (n = 31) old adults, both matched for age, were analyzed. Subjects were submitted to a physical capacity evaluation, including physical activity levels, functional fitness test, and balance scale.

Depressed patients showed significant lower levels of cortisol than controls, which became non-significant after controlling for physical capacity. A positive correlation was observed between cortisol levels and physical capacity.

The data suggest that physical capacity modulates the relationship between depression and cortisol levels and needs to be taken into consideration in the future investigations.