Increased Saliva Cortisol Awakening Response in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Background: It is unknown whether HPA-axis dysfunction is present in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether cortisol levels are elevated among patients with MCI and/or whether the individuals have adequate feedback control of their HPA axis. Material and Methods: 27 patients with MCI and 15 healthy controls were included in the study. Saliva samplings were performed 5 times a day before intake of 0.5 mg dexamethasone, and 5 times a day after intake of dexamethasone, respectively. Results: Significantly higher cortisol levels were found 15 min after awakening among patients with MCI in comparison with the controls, both before and after dexamethasone administration (p < 0.05). Also, the ratio between cortisol at awakening time and 15 min after awakening was lower in the patient group after dexamethasone administration (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in basal cortisol levels before or after dexamethasone between groups. Conclusion: The results indicate that there is an HPA-axis disturbance, with normal basal cortisol levels and increased awakening response among patients with MCI. The dissociation between basal values and the awakening response may be of pathophysiological importance for the cognitive impairment.

Systematic Analysis of GWAS Data Reveals Genomic Hotspots for Shared Mechanisms between Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…This contradicts several previous studies that found different cortisol levels between normal and AD [74][75][76][77][78] and between normal and MCI groups [78,79]. Contrarily, it supports the literature that found no correlation between cortisol level and perceived stress in different populations [80][81][82].…”

Chronic Stress Is Associated with High Cortisol Levels and Emotional Coping Mechanisms in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

“…In line with this hypothesis, the hippocampal atrophy reported in aMCI subjects may lead to HPA dysfunction which produces high levels of cortisol. Indeed, patients with aMCI have been shown to have higher levels of awakening cortisol than elderly controls [6] .…”

Estresse, concentrações de cortisol e estratégias de coping no desempenho da memória de idosos saudáveis, com comprometimento cognitivo leve e doença de Alzheimer

“…Em contraste, poucos estudos abordando concentrações de glicocorticóides em indivíduos com CCL foram relatados até o momento (81)(82)(83) . Ademais, em apenas um deles foram observadas concentrações significativamente elevadas de cortisol em comparação com idosos saudáveis do ponto de vista cognitivo (82) .…”

“…Ademais, em apenas um deles foram observadas concentrações significativamente elevadas de cortisol em comparação com idosos saudáveis do ponto de vista cognitivo (82) .…”

“…Nos idosos com DA foram verificadas concentrações significativamente mais elevadas do que em idosos controles (135) . Já entre idosos com CCL, alguns autores demonstraram concentrações de cortisol mais elevadas no período da manhã, mais especificamente, imediatamente antes e 15 minutos após acordar, embora não tenha sido observada diferença expressiva na concentração basal de cortisol analisada ao longo do dia (82) . Entretanto, outros autores não observaram diferença significativa entre CCL e controles (81) .…”