Lifestyle, cortisol dynamics and memory in aging women

ARREGGER AL, CARDOSO EML, SANCHEZ R, SAGLIO ML, MUCHNIK C, CONTRERAS LN

Orlando

Congreso; 99th Annual Meeting Endocrine Society; 2017

Increased susceptibility ofthe aging brain to psychosocial stressors has been associated with harmfuleffects of cortisol on learning and memory. The purpose of this study was toevaluate the relationship between lifestyle, HPA activity and memory in agingwomen. Fourteen women aged 70±5 yo were studied.  They had no history of stroke, primarydementia, major depressive disorder, hepatic or renal failure, antipsychoticdrugs, major tranquilizers, general anesthesia during the last year, or drugsthat may affect the HPA axis. Once completed the Beck inventory (BDI-II), theywere divided in two groups: A (mild depression symptoms, score 9.9±3.6) and B (moderateto severe depression symptoms, score 25±5). All subjects obtained whole salivasamples to assess circadian rhythm of salivary cortisol (SAF) at 8.00 H (SAF8)and 23.00 H (SAF23)( normal variation: SAF23 ≤ 3.8 nM andless than 50% of SAF8). The HPA suppressibility was evaluated by theovernight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST). Salivary cortisol afterDST was determined at 8.00 H (SAF8dex) and 16.00 H (SAF16dex). (normal DST: SAF8dex and SAF16 dex≤ 2.0 nM). Quality of life (QL) and lifestyle (LS) were investigated by self-administeredquestionnaires (SF36 and LS).  Coding,storage and retrieval of episodic memory; logical memory, working memory,semantic memory, visuospatial perception and attention were assessed in twoweekly sessions. The protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the IDIMA. Lanari and all subjects gave their written informed consent. Salivarycortisol was determined by RIA and expressed in nM. Statistical analysis wasperformed using Mann-Whitney, Spearman and Campbell tests (p0.1 in all cases.    A positive and significant correlation wasobserved between SAF8dex and SAF16dex in A (r = 0.738) andB (r= 0.889); p