Sex-specific associations of serum cortisol with brain biomarkers of Alzheimer’s risk

Abstract Emerging evidence implicates chronic psychological stress as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Herein, we examined the relationships between serum cortisol and multimodality brain AD biomarkers in 277 cognitively normal midlife individuals at risk for AD. Overall, higher cortisol...

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Main Authors: Lisa Mosconi, Schantel Williams, Caroline Carlton, Camila Zarate, Camila Boneu, Francesca Fauci, Trisha Ajila, Matilde Nerattini, Steven Jett, Caroline Andy, Michael Battista, Silky Pahlajani, Joseph Osborne, Roberta Diaz Brinton, Jonathan P. Dyke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56071-9
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author Lisa Mosconi
Schantel Williams
Caroline Carlton
Camila Zarate
Camila Boneu
Francesca Fauci
Trisha Ajila
Matilde Nerattini
Steven Jett
Caroline Andy
Michael Battista
Silky Pahlajani
Joseph Osborne
Roberta Diaz Brinton
Jonathan P. Dyke
author_facet Lisa Mosconi
Schantel Williams
Caroline Carlton
Camila Zarate
Camila Boneu
Francesca Fauci
Trisha Ajila
Matilde Nerattini
Steven Jett
Caroline Andy
Michael Battista
Silky Pahlajani
Joseph Osborne
Roberta Diaz Brinton
Jonathan P. Dyke
author_sort Lisa Mosconi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Emerging evidence implicates chronic psychological stress as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Herein, we examined the relationships between serum cortisol and multimodality brain AD biomarkers in 277 cognitively normal midlife individuals at risk for AD. Overall, higher cortisol was associated with lower total brain volume, lower glucose metabolism (CMRglc) in frontal cortex, and higher β-amyloid (Aβ) load in AD-vulnerable regions; and marginally associated with phosphocreatine to ATP ratios (PCr/ATP) in precuneus and parietal regions. Sex-specific modification effects were noted: in women, cortisol exhibited stronger associations with Aβ load and frontal CMRglc, the latter being more pronounced postmenopause. In men, cortisol exhibited stronger associations with gray matter volume and PCr/ATP measures. Higher cortisol was associated with poorer delayed memory in men but not in women. Results were adjusted for age, Apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 status, midlife health factors, and hormone therapy use. These results suggest sex-specific neurophysiological responses to stress, and support a role for stress reduction in AD prevention.
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spelling doaj.art-860ade4fa33e4745b368bbe7e2a3c6502024-03-10T12:11:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-56071-9Sex-specific associations of serum cortisol with brain biomarkers of Alzheimer’s riskLisa Mosconi0Schantel Williams1Caroline Carlton2Camila Zarate3Camila Boneu4Francesca Fauci5Trisha Ajila6Matilde Nerattini7Steven Jett8Caroline Andy9Michael Battista10Silky Pahlajani11Joseph Osborne12Roberta Diaz Brinton13Jonathan P. Dyke14Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Weill Cornell MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Weill Cornell MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Weill Cornell MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Weill Cornell MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Weill Cornell MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Weill Cornell MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Weill Cornell MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Weill Cornell MedicineDepartment of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Weill Cornell MedicineDepartment of Neurology, Weill Cornell MedicineDepartment of Radiology, Weill Cornell MedicineDepartment of Neurology and Pharmacology, University of ArizonaDepartment of Radiology, Weill Cornell MedicineAbstract Emerging evidence implicates chronic psychological stress as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Herein, we examined the relationships between serum cortisol and multimodality brain AD biomarkers in 277 cognitively normal midlife individuals at risk for AD. Overall, higher cortisol was associated with lower total brain volume, lower glucose metabolism (CMRglc) in frontal cortex, and higher β-amyloid (Aβ) load in AD-vulnerable regions; and marginally associated with phosphocreatine to ATP ratios (PCr/ATP) in precuneus and parietal regions. Sex-specific modification effects were noted: in women, cortisol exhibited stronger associations with Aβ load and frontal CMRglc, the latter being more pronounced postmenopause. In men, cortisol exhibited stronger associations with gray matter volume and PCr/ATP measures. Higher cortisol was associated with poorer delayed memory in men but not in women. Results were adjusted for age, Apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 status, midlife health factors, and hormone therapy use. These results suggest sex-specific neurophysiological responses to stress, and support a role for stress reduction in AD prevention.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56071-9
spellingShingle Lisa Mosconi
Schantel Williams
Caroline Carlton
Camila Zarate
Camila Boneu
Francesca Fauci
Trisha Ajila
Matilde Nerattini
Steven Jett
Caroline Andy
Michael Battista
Silky Pahlajani
Joseph Osborne
Roberta Diaz Brinton
Jonathan P. Dyke
Sex-specific associations of serum cortisol with brain biomarkers of Alzheimer’s risk
Scientific Reports
title Sex-specific associations of serum cortisol with brain biomarkers of Alzheimer’s risk
title_full Sex-specific associations of serum cortisol with brain biomarkers of Alzheimer’s risk
title_fullStr Sex-specific associations of serum cortisol with brain biomarkers of Alzheimer’s risk
title_full_unstemmed Sex-specific associations of serum cortisol with brain biomarkers of Alzheimer’s risk
title_short Sex-specific associations of serum cortisol with brain biomarkers of Alzheimer’s risk
title_sort sex specific associations of serum cortisol with brain biomarkers of alzheimer s risk
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56071-9
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