Cortisol, aging and the influence on brain age

Introduction A repeated and/or prolonged dysfunction of the HPA-axis (e.g. due to childhood maltreatment) has been associated with mental and physical diseases as well as biological aging. Glucocorticoid receptors (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) are fundamental regulators of these aging processes. The haplotype CA of the MR SNPs rs5522 and rs2070951 has been associated with lower basal cortisol levels, higher MR reactivity and enhanced stress resilience.

Methods Data of the general population based study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) were analyzed. Age-dependent influences of childhood maltreatment (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, CTQ) in interaction with a genetic disposition (rs5522 and rs2070951) on basal cortisol levels in blood samples were examined. Further, interaction effects of childhood maltreatment, cortisol, age and genetics o neuronal changes were investigated.

Results Childhood maltreatment was associated with lower basal cortisol levels in early and mid-adulthood. Additionally, cortisol effects on subcortical structure volumes and cortical thickness were observed, mediated by genotype effects of the SNP rs2070951.

Conclusion To improve the knowledge about the interaction between stressful life events, genetics, regulation of the HPA-axis and neuronal changes is essential to improve the knowledge about processes of healthy aging.