Projects per year
Abstract
Elevated cortisol levels have been hypothesised to contribute to cognitive ageing, but study findings are inconsistent. In the present study, we examined the association between salivary cortisol in older age and cognitive ability across the life course. We used data from 370 members of the 36-Day Sample of the Scottish Mental Survey 1947, who underwent cognitive testing at age 11, and were then followed up at around age 78, completing further cognitive tests and providing diurnal salivary cortisol samples. We hypothesised that higher cortisol levels would be associated with lower cognitive ability in older age and greater cognitive decline from childhood to older age, but also lower childhood cognitive ability. Few of the tested associations were significant, and of those that were, most suggested a positive relationship between cortisol and cognitive ability. Only one cognitive measure showed any sign of cortisol-related impairment. However, after correcting for multiple comparisons, no results remained significant. These findings suggest that cortisol may not play an important role in cognitive ageing across the life course.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 64-71 |
Journal | Neurobiology of Aging |
Volume | 59 |
Early online date | 8 Aug 2017 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2017 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- cortisol
- cognitive ability
- cognitive ageing
- longitudinal study
- 36-day sample
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Cognitive ability across the life course and cortisol levels in older age'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 3 Finished
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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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Lifelong health and wellbeing of the Scotland in Miniature: the 6-day sample of the Scottish Mental Survey 1947
Paterson, L. (Principal Investigator)
1/10/11 → 30/03/16
Project: Research
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Lifelong health and wellbeing of the Scotland in Miniature: the 6-day sample of the Scottish Mental Survey 1947
Deary, I. (Principal Investigator), Johnson, W. (Co-investigator), Maclullich, A. (Co-investigator) & Starr, J. (Co-investigator)
1/10/11 → 30/03/16
Project: Research
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