title: Higher diurnal salivary cortisol levels are related to smaller prefrontal cortex surface area in elderly men and women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elevated cortisol levels with aging have been associated with atrophy of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC), as well as with impaired cognitive functions in men. However, coexisting diseases have confounded many studies examining these relationships. Studies in women are lacking. Our objective was to test whether salivary cortisol levels were related to morphology of the hippocampus and the PFC, and to cognitive performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study including 200 elderly (55-80 years old) men and women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used magnetic resonance imaging, tests of episodic-, semantic-, and working memory, visuospatial ability, and cortisol levels in four saliva samples collected during 1 day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Area under the curve (AUC) for cortisol levels was negatively related to cortical surface area of the left anterior cingulate gyrus (caudal P<0.001; rostral P=0.006), right lateral orbitofrontal cortex (P=0.004), and right rostral middle frontal gyrus (P=0.003). In women, there was also a negative relationship with cortical surface area in the left rostral middle frontal gyrus (P=0.006). No relationship was found between cortisol levels and hippocampal volume.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the structure of the medial PFC is related to cortisol levels in both elderly women and men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical MedicineMedicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden Region Jönköping CountyJönköping, Sweden andreas.stomby@umu.se.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stomby
authors.affiliation: CEDAR, Center for Demographic and Aging ResearchUmeå University, Umeå, Sweden Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI)Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carl-Johan
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Boraxbekk
authors.affiliation: Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI)Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lundquist
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, PsychiatryUmeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Annelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nordin
authors.affiliation: Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI)Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden Department of PsychologyStockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars-Göran
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, PsychiatryUmeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adolfsson
authors.affiliation: Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI)Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden Integrative Medical Biology, PhysiologyUmeå University, Umeå, Sweden Radiation Sciences, Diagnostic RadiologyUmeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nyberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical MedicineMedicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Tommy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olsson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone