Hormone-sleep interactions predict cerebellar connectivity and behavior in aging females

Abstract

Sex hormones fluctuate over the course of the female lifespan and are associated with brain health and cognition. Thus, hormonal changes throughout female adulthood, and with menopause in particular, may contribute to sex differences in brain function and behavior. Further, sex hormones have been correlated with sleep patterns, which also exhibit sex-specific impacts on the brain and behavior. As such, the interplay between hormones and sleep may contribute to late-life brain and behavioral outcomes in females. Here, in a sample of healthy middle-aged and older females (n = 79, ages 35-86), we evaluated the effect of hormone-sleep interactions on cognitive and motor performance as well as cerebellar-frontal network connectivity. Salivary samples were used to measure 17β-estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone levels while overnight actigraphy was used to quantify sleep patterns. Cognitive behavior was quantified using the composite average of standardized scores on memory, processing speed, and attentional tasks, and motor behavior was indexed with sequence learning, balance, and dexterity tasks. We analyzed resting-state connectivity correlations for two specific cerebellar-frontal networks: a Crus I to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex network and a Lobule V to primary motor cortex network. In sum, results indicate that sex hormones and sleep patterns interact to predict cerebellar-frontal connectivity and behavior in aging females. Together, the current findings further highlight the potential consequences of endocrine aging in females and suggest that the link between sex hormones and sleep patterns may contribute, in part, to divergent outcomes between sexes in advanced age.

Network segregation in aging females and evaluation of the impact of sex steroid hormones

“…For hormonal analyses, we followed the methodology used in recent work from our research group ( Ballard et al, 2022a ). For the sake of clarity and replicability, the methods reporting here matches what was reported in our recent work ( Ballard et al, 2022a ).…”

“…For hormonal analyses, we followed the methodology used in recent work from our research group ( Ballard et al, 2022a ). For the sake of clarity and replicability, the methods reporting here matches what was reported in our recent work ( Ballard et al, 2022a ). Before collecting the saliva sample, participants were asked to refrain from consuming alcohol 24 h prior and eating or drinking 3 h prior to their first study session to avoid exogenous influences on hormone levels.…”

Network Segregation in Aging Females and Evaluation of the Impact of Sex Steroid Hormones

“…For the analysis of network segregation, we again followed our previous work reported by Ballard and colleagues (2022) (23, 31) and based off analyses initially conducted by Chan et al (2014) (32). Network segregation values were determined using Equation 1 below.…”

“…For hormonal analyses, we followed the methodology used in recent work from our research group (31). For the sake of clarity and replicability, the methods reporting here matches what was reported in our recent work (31).…”

“…For hormonal analyses, we followed the methodology used in recent work from our research group (31). For the sake of clarity and replicability, the methods reporting here matches what was reported in our recent work (31). Before collecting the saliva sample, participants were asked to refrain from consuming alcohol 24 hours prior and eating or drinking 3 hours prior to their first study session to avoid exogenous influences on hormone levels.…”