Can poverty get under your skin? Basal cortisol levels and cognitive function in children from low and high socioeconomic status

2001 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 653-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. LUPIEN ◽  
S. KING ◽  
M. J. MEANEY ◽  
B. S. MCEWEN
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
School Transition ◽  
Low Ses ◽  
Cortisol Secretion ◽  
Basal Cortisol ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Ses Differences

It is well known that individuals from more advantaged social classes enjoy better mental and physical health than do individuals within lower classes. Various mechanisms have been evoked to explain the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and health. One mechanism that has received particular attention in recent years is stress. It has been shown that individuals lower in SES report greater exposure to stressful life events and a greater impact of these events on their life than individuals higher in SES. In order to measure whether the development of the relationship between SES and mental health is sustained by exposure to high levels of glucocorticoids, we measured morning salivary cortisol levels as well as cognitive function (memory, attention, and language) in 307 children (from 6 to 16 years of age) from low versus high SES in the Montreal area in Canada. The results revealed that low SES children from 6 to 10 years old present significantly higher salivary cortisol levels when compared to children from high SES. This difference disappears at the time of school transition, and no SES differences are observed in salivary cortisol levels during high school. However, children from low and high SES do not differ with regard to memory or to attentional and linguistic functions. Also, mothers of low SES children reported higher feelings of depression and more unhealthy behaviors, while mothers of high SES children reported higher stress related to work or family transitions. Altogether, these results show that low SES in young children is related to increased cortisol secretion, although the impact of SES on cortisol secretion is absent after transition to high school. These data are interpreted within the context of the equalization process of class patterning. Four social explanatory factors are suggested to explain the disappearance of SES differences in basal cortisol levels after school transition, taking into account the influence of family environment on the child's secretion of stress hormones.

Cortisol secretion pattern in overweight/obese and normal-weight infants: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-246
Author(s):  
Ana Cristina Resende Camargos ◽  
Pedro Henrique Scheidt Figueiredo ◽  
Sueli Ferreira da Fonseca ◽  
Mariana Aguiar de Matos ◽  
Katherine Simone Caires Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cortisol Secretion ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Cortisol Levels

AbstractBackgroundThe salivary circadian diurnal cortisol plays an important role in growth and development. Inappropriate levels may induce changes associated with an increased risk of obesity later in life. It is unknown if there are differences in cortisol secretion pattern between overweight/obese infants when compared with theirs peers in infancy. Thus, this study aimed to compare the salivary cortisol secretion pattern in overweight/obese and normal-weight infants.MethodsThirty-three (overweight/obese = 17 and normal weight = 16) infants between 6 and 24 months of age had saliva samples collected upon awakening (T1), 30 min after waking (T2), at 12:00 am or before the baby’s meal (T3), and prior to bedtime (T4). Highly sensitive enzyme immunoassays were used for cortisol analyses.ResultsSalivary cortisol levels were similar between the groups: T1 (p = 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −5.65, 1.37), T2 (p = 0.24; 95% CI: −8.23, 2.17), T3 (p = 0.95; 95% CI: −3.16, 2.96), and T4 (p = 0.81; 95% CI: −1.39, 1.08); and no differences were observed between area under the curve (AUC) (p = 0.80; 95% CI: −4.58–13.66). The cortisol level reduced in T4 (95% CI: 1.35–2.96) compared to T1 (95% CI: 5.15–8.49) and T2 in the overweight/obese group (p < 0.001; 95% CI: 6.02–11.04). In the normal-weight group, the cortisol reduced in T3 (95% CI: 2.86–8.18) compared to T1 (95% CI: 5.64–12.28) and decreased until T4 (p = 0.001; 95% CI: 1.25–3.37).ConclusionsThe overweight/obese infant group presented a different pattern of cortisol secretion, although cortisol levels did not differ between the control group.

Cognitive and Noncognitive Symptoms in Dementia Patients: Relationship to Cortisol and Dehydroepiandrosterone

1998 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry P. Miller ◽  
Joy Taylor ◽  
Stephanie Rogerson ◽  
Maritess Mauricio ◽  
Quinn Kennedy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Disease Assessment ◽  
Cognitive Measure ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
Basal Cortisol ◽  
Noncognitive Symptoms ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Clinical Measures

We investigated the relationship between basal cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels and impairment in different cognitive and noncognitive measures and the possible interaction of DHEA with hypercortisolemia in dementia in 27 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD). There were 17 men and 10 women. Patients were mildly to moderately cognitively impaired at the time of the initial cortisol measures. Patients were administered the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS) and Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at approximately 6-month intervals. Cortisol and DHEA were determined using conventional 125I radioimmunoassay procedures. Pearson product-moment correlations among cortisol and DHEA measures and both initial and longitudinal clinical measures were calculated. There was a relationship between baseline 8 a.m. cortisol levels and cognitive function at the initial testing as measured by the ADAS cognitive measure, with higher cortisol levels being associated with a greater level of impairment. We did not document a relationship between cortisol or DHEA levels and noncognitive measures. There was a significant correlation between both the initial MMSE and ADAS cognitive measures and initial DHEA level, with lower DHEA levels unexpectedly being associated with better performance on these measures. The initial DHEA levels did not predict decline in cognitive function over time. These findings bring into question the potential usefulness of DHEA as a therapeutic agent.

scholarly journals Differential Effects of Focused Attention and Open Monitoring Meditation on Autonomic Cardiac Modulation and Cortisol Secretion

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuuki Ooishi ◽  
Masahiro Fujino ◽  
Vimala Inoue ◽  
Michio Nomura ◽  
Norimichi Kitagawa
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Physiological Activity ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
Cortisol Secretion ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Open Monitoring ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Cardiac Modulation

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been used widely as a useful tool for the alleviation of various stress-related symptoms. However, the effects of MBIs on stress-related physiological activity have not yet been ascertained. MBIs primarily consist of focused-attention (FA) and open-monitoring (OM) meditation. Since differing effects of FA and OM meditation on brain activities and cognitive tasks have been mentioned, we hypothesized that FA and OM meditation have also differing effects on stress-related physiological activity. In this study, we examined the effects of FA and OM meditation on autonomic cardiac modulation and cortisol secretion. Forty-one healthy adults (aged 20–46 years) who were meditation novices experienced 30-min FA and OM meditation tasks by listening to instructions. During resting- and meditation-states, electrocardiogram transducers were attached to participants to measure the R-R interval, which were used to evaluate heart rate (HR) and perform heart rate variability (HRV) analyses. Saliva samples were obtained from participants pre- and post-meditation to measure salivary cortisol levels. Results showed that FA meditation induced a decrease in HR and an increase in the root mean square of successive differences (rMSDD). In contrast, OM meditation induced an increase in the standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval (SDNN) to rMSSD ratio (SDNN/rMSSD) and a decrease in salivary cortisol levels. These results suggest that FA meditation elevates physiological relaxation, whereas OM meditation elevates physiological arousal and reduces stress.

Heritability of Cortisol Regulation in Children

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 553-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per A. Gustafsson ◽  
Per E. Gustafsson ◽  
Henrik Anckarsäter ◽  
Paul Lichtenstein ◽  
Therese Ljung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythm ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Normal Development ◽  
Genetic Regulation ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Genetic Influence ◽  
Complex Interplay ◽  
Basal Cortisol ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Background: The normal development of cortisol regulation during childhood is thought to be influenced by a complex interplay between environmental and genetic factors. Method: The aim of this study was to estimate genetic and environmental influences on basal cortisol levels in a sample of 151 twin pairs aged 9–16 years. Salivary cortisol was collected on two consecutive days when the children attended school — immediately after awakening, 30 min post-awakening and at bedtime. Results: Heritability was highest (60%) for cortisol levels about 30 min after awakening. For samples taken immediately at awakening heritability was less pronounced (28%) and in the evening low (8%). Conclusion: The limited genetic influence on evening levels, moderate on cortisol at awakening and high on awakening response, might imply two genetic regulation patterns, one specifically for awakening response and one for the circadian rhythm proper. These findings could explain divergent results in previous studies and highlight the importance of taking the circadian rhythm into account in studies of cortisol levels in children.

scholarly journals Animal Visitation Program (AVP) Reduces Cortisol Levels of University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

AERA Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 233285841985259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Pendry ◽  
Jaymie L. Vandagriff
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Stress Relief ◽  
Basal Cortisol ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Hands On ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Time Awake

University students report high levels of stress. Although causal work is limited, one popular approach to promote stress relief is animal visitation programs (AVPs). We conducted a randomized trial (N = 249) examining effects of a 10-minute AVP on students’ salivary cortisol levels. Undergraduate students were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: hands-on AVP (petting cats and dogs; n = 73), AVP observation (watching others pet animals; n = 62), AVP slideshow (viewing images of same animals; n = 57), or AVP waitlist (n = 57). Participants collected salivary cortisol upon waking, and two samples were collected 15 and 25 minutes after the 10-minute condition, reflecting cortisol levels at the beginning and end of the intervention. Controlling for students’ basal cortisol, time awake, and circadian pattern, students in the hands-on condition had lower posttest cortisol compared to slideshow (β = .150, p = .046), waitlist (β = .152, p = .033), and observation (β = .164, p = .040). A 10-minute college-based AVP providing hands-on petting of cats and dogs provides momentary stress relief.

Relations between recurrent trauma exposure and recent life stress and salivary cortisol among children

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 257-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Bevans ◽  
Arleen Cerbone ◽  
Stacy Overstreet
Keyword(s):  
Urban Youth ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Trauma Exposure ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Basal Cortisol ◽  
Previous Trauma ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Exposure To Trauma

AbstractThe present study evaluated the independent and cumulative effects of recent life stress, previous trauma, and recent trauma exposure on salivary cortisol levels among school-aged children. Sixty-eight children (mean age = 10.7 years) reported their exposure to life stressors and traumatic events in the 12 months preceding the study. Children and their caregivers reported frequency of exposure to trauma earlier in life. Exposure to life stress within the past 12 months was related to higher afternoon cortisol levels. Exposure to high levels of recent trauma in combination with frequent exposure to trauma earlier in life was related to both lower morning cortisol levels and higher afternoon cortisol levels. Results suggest that frequency, duration, and severity of exposure to stress and trauma played key roles in the prediction of basal cortisol levels in a community sample of urban youth.

scholarly journals Cortisol circadian rhythm and jet-lag syndrome: evaluation of salivary cortisol rhythm in a group of eastward travelers

Endocrine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Maria Paragliola ◽  
Andrea Corsello ◽  
Eliana Troiani ◽  
Pietro Locantore ◽  
Giampaolo Papi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythm ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Stress Hormones ◽  
Reactive System ◽  
Cortisol Secretion ◽  
Jet Lag ◽  
The West ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Pituitary Adrenal Axis

Abstract Purpose The activity of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis plays a crucial role as an endogenous stress-reactive system. Lifestyle and work often interfere with the endogenous circadian rhythms and can modify the physiological patterns of stress-hormones secretion, including cortisol. We evaluated the cortisol circadian rhythm in the “jet-lag syndrome” that is the most known condition associated with the desynchronization of the circadian rhythm. Methods To assess the modifications of cortisol secretion after a long-haul flight, we compared baseline and post-travel salivary cortisol rhythm in a group of 28 healthy eastward travelers (from the U.S.A. or Canada to Italy). The salivary samples were collected about 1 week before the departure at 11 p.m. on day 0 and at 8 a.m., 12 a.m. (midday) and 11 p.m. on day 1 (R0). The same samples were obtained after the landing, the day they flew back home (R1). Results Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between R0 and R1 for each sample considered (p < 0.005). In particular, the post-travel salivary cortisol levels detected at 11 p.m. both on day 0 and on day 1, were significantly higher than at baseline. Post-travel morning salivary cortisol levels were lower compared with basal rhythm and increased during the morning, reaching the acrophase at 12 a.m. Conclusions In eastward travelers, crossing more than five time zones, the cortisol circadian rhythm after the return to the East “remained behind,” being synchronized with the West time. This impaired cortisol secretion can contribute to the pathogenesis of the jet-lag syndrome.

Abstract 253: The Association of Socioeconomic Status With Elevation of N-terminal Pro-b-type Natriuretic Peptide

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Vart ◽  
Kunihiro Matsushita ◽  
Elizabeth Selvin ◽  
Deidra C Crews ◽  
Chiadi E Ndumele ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Natriuretic Peptide ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Low Ses ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Low Education

Background: The association between socioeconomic status (SES) and clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well established. However, the association between SES and subclinical cardiac overload is unclear. We examined the association of SES with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), a marker of cardiac overload, in a population without prevalent clinical CVD (coronary disease, stroke, and heart failure hospitalization). Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 11,026 ARIC Study participants without prevalent clinical CVD at visit 2 (1990-1992), we assessed whether education level (<high school (low), high school/equivalent (medium) and >high school (high)) and household income (<$12,000 (low), $12,000 - $24,999 (medium) and ≥ $25,000 (high): $1 in 1991 = ~$1.75 in 2015) were associated with elevated NT-pro-BNP (≥400 pg/ml) in logistic regression models. Given that disproportionately high number of blacks belong to low SES and levels of NT-proBNP might vary by race, we tested SES-race interaction and stratified analyses by race. Results: After accounting for potential confounders, those with low education and income levels demonstrated higher odds of having elevated NT-proBNP compared to those with high education and income, although statistical significance was observed only for income. In race-stratified analysis, association of low education and income with NT-pro-BNP did not appear to differ between blacks and whites (p-interaction with income=0.99 or with education=0.52). When using NT-pro-BNP as a continuous dependent variable, both, low income and education showed a significant association with higher NT-proBNP levels compared to those with high income and education, respectively. Conclusions: Low SES (particularly low income) was associated with elevated level of NT-pro-BNP. Targeting low SES individuals might be helpful in early identification of high risk population for cardiac overload.

scholarly journals G-308A Polymorphism of the Tumor Necrosis Factorα Gene Promoter and Salivary Cortisol Secretion1

2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
pp. 2178-2180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Rosmond ◽  
Monique Chagnon ◽  
Claude Bouchard ◽  
Per Björntorp
Keyword(s):  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Untranslated Region ◽  
Tumor Necrosis ◽  
Gene Promoter ◽  
Rare Allele ◽  
The Other ◽  
Cortisol Secretion ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Cortisol Levels

The objective of the current study was to examine the potential impact of the G→A substitution at position −308 of the tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) gene promoter on obesity and estimates of insulin, glucose, and lipid metabolism as well as circulating hormones including salivary cortisol in 284 unrelated Swedish men born in 1944. The subjects were genotyped by using PCR amplification of the 5′ untranslated region of the TNF-α gene followed by digestion with the restriction enzyme NcoI. The frequencies were 0.77 for allele G and 0.23 for allele A. Tests for differences in salivary cortisol levels between the TNF-α genotypes revealed that there were significantly higher cortisol levels in the morning, before as well as 30 and 60 min after stimulation by a standardized lunch in homozygotes for the rare allele in comparison with the other genotypes. In addition, homozygotes for the rare allele had a tendency toward higher mean values of body mass index, waist to hip ratio, and abdominal sagittal diameter compared with the other genotype groups. The results also indicated a weak trend toward elevated insulin and glucose levels among men with the A/A genotype. In conclusion, a G→A polymorphism in the 5′ untranslated region of the TNF-α gene is associated with elevated morning cortisol levels as well as elevated postprandial cortisol secretion. This increase in cortisol secretion might be the endocrine mechanism underlying the previously observed associations between the NcoI TNF-α polymorphism and obesity as well as insulin resistance. However, to what extent this polymorphism is associated with these conditions is uncertain from the present data.

scholarly journals Latent Autonomous Cortisol Secretion From Apparently Nonfunctioning Adrenal Tumor in Nonlateralized Hyperaldosteronism

2019 ◽  
Vol 104 (10) ◽  
pp. 4382-4389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youichi Ohno ◽  
Masakatsu Sone ◽  
Nobuya Inagaki ◽  
Yoshiyu Takeda ◽  
Isao Kurihara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Renin Activity ◽  
Plasma Renin ◽  
Renin Activity ◽  
Adrenal Tumors ◽  
Cortisol Secretion ◽  
Hormone Levels ◽  
Clinical Complications ◽  
Basal Cortisol ◽  
Autonomous Cortisol Secretion ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Abstract Context Adrenal tumors (ATs), even those diagnosed as nonfunctioning, may cause metabolic disorders. Some primary aldosteronism (PA) patients with ATs are diagnosed with bilateral PA based on adrenal venous sampling (AVS), and their ATs are apparently nonfunctioning. Objective To clarify the influence of apparently nonfunctioning ATs, we compared hormone levels and clinical complications between bilateral PA cases with and without ATs. Design, setting, and participants After retrospectively assessing 2814 patients with PA in the multicenter Japan PA study, bilateral PA cases on AVS were divided into cases with and without ATs by computed tomography findings. Importantly, patients with cortisol levels >1.8 µg/dL after the 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) were excluded. Clinical characteristics and biochemical data were compared between them. The correlation between AT size and hormone levels was also analyzed. Main outcome measures Analyzed were 196 bilateral PA patients with ATs and 331 those without ATs. Although basal cortisol and aldosterone levels were similar between them, cortisol levels after the 1-mg DST and the prevalences of diabetes mellitus and proteinuria were significantly higher and ACTH levels and plasma renin activity were significantly lower in cases with ATs than in those without. After adjusting for patients’ backgrounds, cortisol levels after the 1-mg DST and plasma renin activity remained significantly different between them. Moreover, cortisol levels after the 1-mg DST and ACTH levels correlated with AT size. Conclusions Apparently nonfunctioning ATs in bilateral PA cases may cause latent autonomous cortisol secretion, inducing diabetes and proteinuria.

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