Cortisol's Sneaky Impact on Mood and Memory in Women

Highlights:

Elevated hair cortisol is linked to poorer attention and working memory
Salivary cortisol is associated with increased severity of depressive symptoms
The study suggests potential markers for assessing cognitive and mental health in menopausal women

Cortisol is like a coin, with one side representing a woman’s mood and the other her memory; both are adversely affected by this stress hormone.

We are all aware of how stress can exert multifaceted impacts on both the body and the brain, elevating cortisol levels throughout various bodily tissues.

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‘Higher hair cortisol affects memory, while salivary cortisol links to depression severity. #menopause #memory #attention #medindia’

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A recent study suggests that heightened cortisol levels in hair and saliva may influence cognitive function and mental well-being in women experiencing late peri/early post menopause. These findings will be presented at the 2023 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in Philadelphia from September 27-30 ().

Impact of Cortisol on Women's Cognitive Health

It is widely recognized that stress can have profound implications for physical and mental health, leading to the development of numerous adverse conditions. Extensive research has explored the enduring consequences of stress.

This novel study, although conducted with a relatively small sample size (comprising 43 participants in late perimenopause or early post menopause), adopted a unique approach to assessing the impact of stress.

It sought to ascertain the extent to which cortisol levels in hair and saliva correlated with the severity of depression symptoms and cognitive performance, encompassing domains such as verbal memory, verbal learning, attention, and working memory, in healthy women undergoing late peri/early post menopause.

Cortisol Levels in Postmenopausal Women

The researchers discovered that elevated levels of hair cortisol were notably linked with diminished attention and working memory performance. Notably, hair cortisol did not demonstrate a significant correlation with performance on verbal learning or verbal memory tests.

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On the other hand, salivary cortisol did not significantly correlate with trials related to verbal memory recall, attention, or working memory performance. However, higher levels of salivary cortisol were notably associated with heightened severity of depressive symptoms.

This study suggests that indicators of hypothalamic-pituitary-axis (HPA) activation, which encapsulates the overall secretion of cortisol over several months, namely hair cortisol, strongly align with cognitive performance in tasks involving attention and working memory. Conversely, measures of more immediate cortisol levels, namely salivary cortisol, may be more closely linked to the severity of depressive symptoms.

These findings will be presented at the Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society as part of the presentation titled, "Stress in the body, on the brain: hair and salivary cortisol levels linked with depressive symptom severity and cognitive performance among healthy late peri/early postmenopausal women."

Dr. Christina Metcalf, Assistant Professor and lead author from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, CO, remarks, "This work provides initial evidence linking longer-term HPA activation with worse attention and memory during perimenopause. Other research has demonstrated that interventions can decrease HPA activation; my next steps will be to study whether longer-term HPA is a modifiable marker and if by decreasing HPA activation with interventions we can improve executive functioning during the perimenopause."

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Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director of The Menopause Society, adds, "This study, although small in size, provides insight into considering HPA activity when evaluating a patient’s cognitive and mental health. This may be helpful in the future to identify patients who may be at higher risk for depression and cognitive decline."

Long-term effects of menopause encompass a range of medical conditions, including an increased risk of heart disease and weight gain. The adrenal glands play a crucial role in regulating the body's response to stress, impacting the immune system and blood sugar levels. Understanding the symptoms of menopause and their potential impact on daily life is essential. It's important to talk to your doctor about treatment options to mitigate these risks, especially in the years after menopause.

To reduce the risk of developing complications associated with menopause, it's crucial to be aware of signs and symptoms and seek medical advice promptly. Interacting with your healthcare provider is key to managing these changes effectively and avoiding potential long-term health issues.

“Balancing cortisol could be the cheat code to safeguarding cognition and mental well-being”

Reference:

Relationship of Salivary Cortisol Level With Severe Depression and Family History - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7748563/)

Source-Medindia