Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis and its influence on aging: the role of the hypothalamus
Abstract As part of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, the hypothalamus exerts pivotal influence on metabolic and endocrine homeostasis. With age, these processes are subject to considerable change, resulting in increased prevalence of physical disability and cardiac disorders. Yet, rese...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33922-5 |
| _version_ | 1827956844821217280 |
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| author | Melanie Spindler Marco Palombo Hui Zhang Christiane M. Thiel |
| author_facet | Melanie Spindler Marco Palombo Hui Zhang Christiane M. Thiel |
| author_sort | Melanie Spindler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract As part of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, the hypothalamus exerts pivotal influence on metabolic and endocrine homeostasis. With age, these processes are subject to considerable change, resulting in increased prevalence of physical disability and cardiac disorders. Yet, research on the aging human hypothalamus is lacking. To assess detailed hypothalamic microstructure in middle adulthood, 39 healthy participants (35–65 years) underwent comprehensive structural magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, we studied HPA axis dysfunction proxied by hair cortisol and waist circumference as potential risk factors for hypothalamic alterations. We provide first evidence of regionally different hypothalamic microstructure, with age effects in its anterior–superior subunit, a critical area for HPA axis regulation. Further, we report that waist circumference was related to increased free water and decreased iron content in this region. In age, hair cortisol was additionally associated with free water content, such that older participants with higher cortisol levels were more vulnerable to free water content increase than younger participants. Overall, our results suggest no general age-related decline in hypothalamic microstructure. Instead, older individuals could be more susceptible to risk factors of hypothalamic decline especially in the anterior–superior subregion, including HPA axis dysfunction, indicating the importance of endocrine and stress management in age. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:10:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b6ce07aa19e24e9a89731a0456ca0c1a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:10:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-b6ce07aa19e24e9a89731a0456ca0c1a2023-04-30T11:15:55ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-04-0113111110.1038/s41598-023-33922-5Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis and its influence on aging: the role of the hypothalamusMelanie Spindler0Marco Palombo1Hui Zhang2Christiane M. Thiel3Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität OldenburgCardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology & School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff UniversityDepartment of Computer Science and Centre for Medical Image Computing (CMIC), University College London (UCL)Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität OldenburgAbstract As part of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, the hypothalamus exerts pivotal influence on metabolic and endocrine homeostasis. With age, these processes are subject to considerable change, resulting in increased prevalence of physical disability and cardiac disorders. Yet, research on the aging human hypothalamus is lacking. To assess detailed hypothalamic microstructure in middle adulthood, 39 healthy participants (35–65 years) underwent comprehensive structural magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, we studied HPA axis dysfunction proxied by hair cortisol and waist circumference as potential risk factors for hypothalamic alterations. We provide first evidence of regionally different hypothalamic microstructure, with age effects in its anterior–superior subunit, a critical area for HPA axis regulation. Further, we report that waist circumference was related to increased free water and decreased iron content in this region. In age, hair cortisol was additionally associated with free water content, such that older participants with higher cortisol levels were more vulnerable to free water content increase than younger participants. Overall, our results suggest no general age-related decline in hypothalamic microstructure. Instead, older individuals could be more susceptible to risk factors of hypothalamic decline especially in the anterior–superior subregion, including HPA axis dysfunction, indicating the importance of endocrine and stress management in age.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33922-5 |
| spellingShingle | Melanie Spindler Marco Palombo Hui Zhang Christiane M. Thiel Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis and its influence on aging: the role of the hypothalamus Scientific Reports |
| title | Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis and its influence on aging: the role of the hypothalamus |
| title_full | Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis and its influence on aging: the role of the hypothalamus |
| title_fullStr | Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis and its influence on aging: the role of the hypothalamus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis and its influence on aging: the role of the hypothalamus |
| title_short | Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis and its influence on aging: the role of the hypothalamus |
| title_sort | dysfunction of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis and its influence on aging the role of the hypothalamus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33922-5 |
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