Subjective mild depressive symptoms are associated with abnormal diurnal cycle of salivary cortisol in older adults.
BACKGROUND
Alterations in cortisol secretion pattern seem to be involved in the associations between aging, depression, and cognitive decline.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to mainly assess cortisol circadian profile in older adults with subjective depressive symptoms.


METHODS
Salivary cortisol samples from healthy young (n = 22) and old adults (n = 22), and from older adults who self-reported depressive symptoms in Geriatric Depression Scale (n = 22) were collected at 7 AM, 4 PM, and 10 PM and were analyzed by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
Older adults with depressive symptoms presented the characteristic cortisol circadian pattern, but they showed higher cortisol levels at 10 PM than healthy young and elderly controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that mild depressive symptoms could be associated with a cortisol secretion pattern previously described as being predictive of cognitive decline.
Balardin
Joana Bisol
JB
Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Vedana
Gustavo
G
Luz
Clarice
C
Bromberg
Elke
E
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D006854:Hydrocortisone