Using saliva to measure endogenous cortisol in nursing home residents with advanced dementia.
Two research teams determined the feasibility of saliva collection for cortisol measurement in nursing home residents with advanced dementia. Study aims were to: (a) determine if sufficient saliva could be obtained for assay and (b) examine whether cortisol values exhibited range and variability for meaningful interpretation. Useable samples were consistent across sites, suggesting that saliva collection for cortisol assay is a viable method in this setting. Cortisol values showed range and variability. More than half of the residents showed the normal adult pattern of high morning levels decreasing throughout the day. A third of the participants demonstrated an increase in the evening cortisol levels, while the remaining profiles were flat, suggesting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) dysregulation in this population.
Woods
Diana Lynn
DL
School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, 700 Tiverton Avenue, Box 956919, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6919, USA.
Kovach
Christine R
CR
Raff
Hershel
H
Joosse
Laura
L
Basmadjian
Alicia
A
Hegadoren
Kathleen M
KM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014922:Wisconsin
D006854:Hydrocortisone