Neuroendocrine markers in aging brain: clinical and neurobiological significance of dexamethasone suppression test

Aging : Clinical and Experimental Research
L ParnettiN Caputo

Abstract

The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) is commonly accepted as an indicator of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning in clinical practice. In this study, DST was carried out in a geriatric population composed of patients with dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT), stroke and age-matched controls. The stress state of the subjects was also functionally assessed by the Symptoms Rating Test (SRT). The results disclosed no significant differences in basal cortisol levels in the three groups. A positive correlation between age and log-transformed basal cortisol levels was found in the entire population as well as in each group. After dexamethasone administration, 20% of controls, 49% of DAT patients, and 48% of stroke patients were non-suppressors. At 8.00 a.m. and 11.00 p.m. after dexamethasone, cortisol levels were significantly lower (p less than 0.02) in controls than in pathological groups. A significant positive correlation between age and symptoms of depression and anxiety was found. One-third of stroke patients showing lesions in the right hemisphere were non-suppressors, and presented mostly subcortical infarcts, while 1/4 of them had depressive disorders. This study demonstrated a progressive increase in basal ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Feb 1, 1992·Molecular and Chemical Neuropathology·L ParnettiU Senin
Sep 27, 2007·Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases : the Official Journal of National Stroke Association·A J Mitchell
Apr 28, 2005·Psychoneuroendocrinology·Rachel YehudaLisa Tischler
Apr 12, 2005·QJM : Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians·L Sher
Jul 16, 2011·Population and Development Review·Douglas A WolfAlexandre Genest
Nov 8, 2003·Journal of Women & Aging·James N Laditka, Sarah B Laditka

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