Hair cortisol concentration, cognitive, behavioral, and motor impairment in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by the demyelinated inflammatory processes that occur within the central nervous system. Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) dysfunctions have been associated with the triggering or increase in MS symptoms. We thus aimed at evaluating motor and behavioral functions, planning skills, processing speed, and their relationship with stress through measuring hair cortisol concentration from patients with MS. The sample was composed of 40 volunteers that were clinically diagnosed with MS, along with 33 healthy adults. Evaluations included: Clinical Evaluation Form, Mini-Mental State Exam, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite Measure, Expanded Disability Status Scale, Berg Balance Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Zoo Map task, and a hair sample to analyze cortisol levels in the last 30 days. MS patients showed highly elevated hair cortisol levels in comparison to the control group (p = 0.048). All groups presented some degree of depressive and anxiety symptoms, aside from considerable perceived stress levels. The MS group presented deficits in gait, balance, manual skills and processing speed, and this was particularly so in individuals with moderate impairments when compared to control group (p < 0.001). Individuals with MS spent less time planning on ZooMap1 (p = 0.024) and made more mistakes (p < 0.001). No correlation was found between hair cortisol and the symptoms we assessed. However, depressive symptoms and anxiety were related to perceived stress, and higher hair cortisol suggests a change in levels in the HPA axis in MS. Nevertheless, future studies will be necessary to further understand how basal hair cortisol is related to MS symptoms.

A systematic review of hair cortisol in healthy adults measured using immunoassays: Methodological considerations and proposed reference values for research

“…Subsequently, samples were either stored in aluminum foil within a coded envelope or kept in an air‐tight plastic container; although storage temperature was not always reported, in those studies that provided this information, samples were held at room temperature. Two studies (Pereira et al., 2019; Scheffer et al., 2019) noted the length of storage, and in each one, samples were kept for up to a year.…”

The role of plasma cortisol in dementia, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis: A Mendelian randomization study

“…The Global Burden of Disease Study reports that the age-standardized MS prevalence is highest in high-income regions of North America, at 164.6 per 100,000 people, and is lowest in Asia ( 24 , 25 ). Some studies have shown that hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction is associated with the triggering of or increases in MS symptoms ( 26 , 27 ).…”

Effects of Tele-Pilates and Tele-Yoga on Biochemicals, Physical, and Psychological Parameters of Females with Multiple Sclerosis

“…Physical function problems, psychological or mood disturbances, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) dysfunction, and a sexual hormone secretion disorder are all symptoms and signs of MS [ 2 , 3 ]. Although the etiology of MS is unknown [ 1 ], genetic factors, hormones, and/or HPA dysfunctions have been implicated in controlling the progression of autoimmune diseases [ 4 , 5 ]. Additionally, sex and stress hormones, including prolactin and cortisol, presumably have complicated mechanisms of function in MS disease [ 6 ].…”