Effect of aspirin on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function and on neuropsychological performance in healthy adults: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation predicts poor clinical and biochemical response to antidepressants. Antiglucocorticoids have therapeutic benefits but most have a troublesome adverse event profile. Aspects of neuropsychological performance, notably working memory, are susceptible to corticosteroid modulation and are impaired in depression. Aspirin has been shown to attenuate the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol response to physiological challenge suggesting its potential to act as an augmenting agent in depression.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of sub-acute (300 mg daily for 7 days) aspirin pre-treatment on the cortisol awakening response and the effect of acute (600 mg) and sub-acute aspirin on the neuroendocrine and neuropsychological response to the arginine vasopressin analogue, desmopressin.


RESULTS
We demonstrated that aspirin pre-treatment did not attenuate the cortisol or ACTH response to desmopressin but, as hypothesised, significantly reduced the cortisol awakening response and improved working memory.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies to examine the impact of aspirin on neuropsychological performance and HPA axis function are warranted.
Watson
Stuart
S
Institute of Neuroscience, Leazes Wing (Psychiatry), Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK. stuart.watson@ncl.ac.uk
Horton
Kate
K
Bulmer
Samantha
S
Carlile
Jane
J
Corcoran
Ciaran
C
Gallagher
Peter
P
Ferrier
I Nicol
IN
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D012463:Saliva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D006490:Hemostatics; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin; D001241:Aspirin; D006854:Hydrocortisone