Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Longitudinal Research

Longitudinal Research

Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...

Longitudinal Studies

Longitudinal Studies

Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive Development During Adulthood

Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...

Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle

Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle

Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.

Three Developmental Domains

Three Developmental Domains

Human development is typically examined across three main domains: physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional. These domains represent the significant areas of change and continuity throughout the lifespan, from infancy to late adulthood.
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Genetic loci associated with plasma phospholipid n-3 fatty acids: a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies from the CHARGE Consortium.

PLoS genetics·2011

Same author

Plasma clusterin concentration is associated with longitudinal brain atrophy in mild cognitive impairment.

NeuroImage·2011

Same author

Total zinc intake may modify the glucose-raising effect of a zinc transporter (SLC30A8) variant: a 14-cohort meta-analysis.

Diabetes·2011

Same author

Effect modification by population dietary folate on the association between MTHFR genotype, homocysteine, and stroke risk: a meta-analysis of genetic studies and randomised trials.

Lancet (London, England)·2011

Same author

Allelic heterogeneity and more detailed analyses of known loci explain additional phenotypic variation and reveal complex patterns of association.

Human molecular genetics·2011

Same author

A genome-wide association study of aging.

Neurobiology of aging·2011

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 4, 2026

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

Published on: July 10, 2017

Longitudinal Change in Cortisol Levels Across the Adult Life Span.

Scott D Moffat¹, Yang An², Susan M Resnick²

¹Department of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta.

The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences

|November 13, 2019

Summary

Cortisol levels, measured as 24-hour urinary free cortisol (UFC/Cr), show a U-shaped pattern throughout adulthood. Levels decrease in younger adulthood, stabilize in middle age, and rise in older age.

Keywords:

Aging Corticosteroid Cortisol Glucocorticoid

More Related Videos

Collecting Hair Samples for Hair Cortisol Analysis in African Americans

Collecting Hair Samples for Hair Cortisol Analysis in African Americans

Published on: June 10, 2018

Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model

Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model

Published on: July 12, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 4, 2026

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents

Published on: July 10, 2017

Collecting Hair Samples for Hair Cortisol Analysis in African Americans

Collecting Hair Samples for Hair Cortisol Analysis in African Americans

Published on: June 10, 2018

Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model

Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model

Published on: July 12, 2024

Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Gerontology
Stress Physiology

Background:

Cortisol is a critical stress hormone linked to age-related disease development.
Limited longitudinal data exists on human cortisol exposure across the lifespan.
Understanding cortisol dynamics is crucial for aging research.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify longitudinal changes in cortisol levels throughout the adult lifespan.
To investigate the trajectory of cortisol exposure from young adulthood to older age.

Main Methods:

Prospective longitudinal study design.
Analysis of 24-hour urinary free cortisol to creatinine ratio (UFC/Cr) in 1,814 participants (ages 20-90+).
Utilized liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry for precise cortisol measurement.

Main Results:

Cortisol excretion (UFC/Cr) exhibits a U-shaped pattern across the lifespan.
Decreases observed in the 20s and 30s, followed by stability in the 40s and 50s.
Significant increases in cortisol levels were noted in older adulthood.

Conclusions:

Longitudinal cortisol patterns vary significantly across the adult lifespan.
These age-related cortisol changes may influence medical, physiological, and behavioral outcomes.
Further research is needed to elucidate cortisol's role in healthy aging and disease.