Projects per year
Abstract
Elevated glucocorticoid (GC) levels are hypothesized to be deleterious to some brain regions, including white matter (WM). Older age is accompanied by increased between-participant variation in GC levels, yet relationships between WM integrity and cortisol levels in older humans are underexplored. Moreover, it is unclear whether GC-WM associations might be general or pathway specific. We analyzed relationships between salivary cortisol (diurnal and reactive) and general measures of brain WM hyperintensity (WMH) volume, fractional anisotropy (gFA), and mean diffusivity (gMD) in 90 males, aged 73 years. Significant associations were predominantly found between cortisol measures and WMHs and gMD but not gFA. Higher cortisol at the start of a mild cognitive stressor was associated with higher WMH and gMD. Higher cortisol at the end was associated with greater WMHs. A constant or increasing cortisol level during cognitive testing was associated with lower gMD. Tract-specific bases of these associations implicated anterior thalamic radiation, uncinate, and arcuate and inferior longitudinal fasciculi. The cognitive sequelae of these relationships, above other covariates, are a priority for future study.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 257-264 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Neurobiology of Aging |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 28 Jun 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2015 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Cortisol
- Glucocorticoid
- White matter
- Aging
- Brain structure
- Tractography
- HIPPOCAMPAL DENTATE GYRUS
- FRACTIONAL ANISOTROPY
- ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE
- SALIVARY CORTISOL
- ELDERLY-PEOPLE
- STRESS
- TRACTOGRAPHY
- DEPRESSION
- HEALTH
- AXIS
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Brain white matter integrity and cortisol in older men: the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 8 Finished
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Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology Phase 2.
Maclullich, A. (Principal Investigator)
1/09/13 → 31/08/19
Project: Research
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RA2661 Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology Phase 2. Main Budget.
Deary, I. (Principal Investigator), Gale, C. (Co-investigator), Holmes, M. (Co-investigator), Logie, P. (Co-investigator), Maclullich, A. (Co-investigator), Porteous, D. (Co-investigator), Seckl, J. (Co-investigator), Starr, J. (Co-investigator), Wardlaw, J. (Co-investigator) & Okely, J. (Researcher)
1/09/13 → 31/08/19
Project: Research
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Brain White mater imaging and cognitive ageing in the Lothian Birth Cohort of 1936:II
Deary, I. (Principal Investigator), Bastin, M. (Co-investigator), Penke, L. (Co-investigator), Starr, J. (Co-investigator) & Wardlaw, J. (Co-investigator)
8/06/11 → 7/03/15
Project: Research
Activities
- 1 Participation in conference
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21st IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics
Cox, S. R. (Invited speaker)
26 Jul 2017Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
Profiles
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Alasdair Maclullich
- Deanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences - Chair of Geriatric Medicine
- Usher Institute - Chair of Geriatric Medicine
- Centre for Population Health Sciences
- Edinburgh Neuroscience
Person: Academic: Research Active