Association between oxytocin and S100B in community-dwelling older adults

The aging of the global population has made healthy aging and the extension of healthy life expectancy significant challenges for many societies. Mental health, including cognitive function, is critical to the quality of life of older adults. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide involved in social bonding and stress regulation, has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects, while S100B, a calcium-binding protein, has been linked to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. However, the relationship between oxytocin and S100B levels during aging remains unclear. This study investigated the association between serum oxytocin and S100B levels in community-dwelling older adults.

This survey, conducted between November 2016 and September 2017 in Kurokawa-cho, Imari, Saga Prefecture, Japan, included community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years. Blood samples were collected to measure serum oxytocin and S100B levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relationships among serum oxytocin, S100B, and cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination, Frontal Assessment Battery, and Clinical Dementia Rating) were analyzed using correlation and multiple regression analyses.

A total of 95 participants (25 men, 70 women; mean age: 78.03 ± 5.12 years) were analyzed. Our analysis showed that serum oxytocin levels were negatively associated with serum S100B levels even after adjusting for age, sex, years of education, and body mass index. However, no significant correlations were found between these biomarkers and overall cognitive function.

These findings suggest that the neuroprotective effects of oxytocin may influence blood S100B levels, though its direct role in cognitive function remains unclear.