Longitudinal Change in Cortisol Levels Across the Adult Life Span. (12th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moffat, Scott D; An, Yang; Resnick, Susan M; Diamond, Michael P; Ferrucci, Luigi
• Editors: Newman, Anne
• Is Part Of: Journals of gerontology. Volume 75:Number 2(20220)
• Page Start: 394
• Page End: 400
• Publication Date: 2019-11-12
• Subjects: Cortisol -- Aging -- Glucocorticoid -- Corticosteroid; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1093/gerona/gly279
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1079-5006

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Cortisol is a key stress hormone implicated in the pathogenesis of many age-related diseases. Longitudinal information on cortisol exposure has been restricted to animal models and a small number of human studies. The purpose of the present study was to quantify longitudinal change in cortisol across the adult life span. Methods: We conducted a prospective longitudinal study of 24-hour urinary free cortisol excretion from ages 20 to 90 years and older. Participants were 1, 814 men and women from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging who provided a total of 5, 527 urine specimens for analysis. The average duration of longitudinal follow-up was 6.6 years. The primary outcome measure was 24-hour urinary free cortisol to creatinine ratio (UFC/Cr) as determined by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results: UFC/Cr follows a U-shaped pattern across the life span with decreases in UFC/Cr in the 20s and 30s, relative stability in the 40s and 50s, and increases thereafter. This pattern of change was robust with respect to adjustment for several potential confounding factors. Conclusions: Age-related changes in cortisol exposure raise important questions about the potential protective or exacerbating role of cortisol exposure in predicting medical, physiological, and behavioral outcomes.