Decreased Memory Performance in Healthy Humans Induced by Stress-Level Cortisol Treatment

Abstract

Several days of exposure to cortisol at doses and plasma concentrations associated with physical and psychological stress in humans can-similar to pharmacological GC treatment-reversibly decrease specific elements of memory performance in otherwise healthy individuals.

Chronic Low-Dose Corticosterone Supplementation Enhances Acquired Epileptogenesis in the Rat Amygdala Kindling Model of TLE

“…In humans, physiological states, which feature prolonged elevation of glucocorticoids, are associated with evidence of impaired hippocampal-associated memory on neuropsychological testing (Belanoff et al, 2001). In addition, similar changes are seen after administration of glucocorticoids to healthy volunteers (Newcomer et al, 1999). The results of our study extend the spectrum of the neurobiological effects of glucocorticoids on brain function to an enhancement of epileptogenesis.…”

Steroid and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cognitive decline, and dementia

“…Cognitive assessment has principally focused on changes in declarative memory consistent with deficiencies in hippocampus-dependent activity, although recent studies have also noted impairments in prefrontal cortex processing (Wolkowitz et al, 2009;Lupien et al, 2007;Franz et al, 2011); both structures having a relatively high density of gluco-and mineralocorticoid receptors. These associations may be transient and dose-dependent (Newcomer et al, 1999;Kirschbaum et al, 1996;Young et al, 1999;de Quervain et al, 2003;Keenan et al, 1996). A lower sensitivity of verbal memory skills compared to other cognitive functions has been reported in young adults after acute CS administration and recently in older adults, in a large study using an extensive cognitive battery; high cortisol levels being specifically associated with poor frontal-executive functions (Franz et al, 2011).…”

“…Associations between short-term CS administration and cognitive impairment have been reported in small experimental and clinical studies in adults (Wolkowitz et al, 2009;Newcomer et al, 1999;Kirschbaum et al, 1996;Lupien et al, 2007;Young et al, 1999;de Quervain et al, 2003;Keenan et al, 1996). The effect of chronic CS administration has, however, never been examined in elderly populations who have high rates of both prescribed and over the counter drug use (Hilmer et al, 2007).…”

Mental Performance in Old Age Dependent on Cortisol and Genetic Variance in the Mineralocorticoid and Glucocorticoid Receptors

“…There were no selection criteria related to health or demographic characteristics. The study population consists of 599 participants, all Caucasians and members of the 1912-1914 birth cohorts, who were enrolled in the month of their 85th birthday between 1997and 1999(Bootsma-van der Wiel et al, 2002. For the present study DNA was available for 563 participants.…”

“…Changes in the stress hormone system have been shown to play a role in the development of depression (Belanoff et al, 2001b;Holsboer, 2000Holsboer, , 2001. In addition, changes in the circulating cortisol concentrations have been associated with impairments in various cognitive domains, including attention, perception, and memory (Jameison and Dinan, 2001;Lupien et al, 2005;Newcomer et al, 1999). In terms of memory, excess cortisol levels have been shown to impair mainly declarative and not nondeclarative memory (Lupien et al, 2005).…”