The impact of cortisol reactivity to acute stress on memory: Sex differences in middle-aged people

Abstract

Stress has been identified as a main factor involved in the cognitive changes that occur during the aging process. This study investigated sex differences in the relationship between the magnitude of the acute stress-induced salivary cortisol response and memory performance among middle-aged people. To this end, 16 men and 16 women (aged 54-72 years) were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test and a control condition in a crossover design. Afterwards their memory performance was measured using a standardized memory test (Rey's Auditory Verbal Learning Test). Only among women, there was an acute impact of stress on memory performance and a significant relationship between a higher cortisol response to the stressor and poorer memory performance in both the stress and control conditions. Additionally, a poorer memory performance was related to earlier timing of sexual maturation (age at menarche), which was also marginally related to higher cortisol reactivity to stress. These results confirm that sex is a critical factor in the relationship between cortisol and poor memory performance. Furthermore, the findings emphasize a strong link between the individual cortisol response to stress and memory functioning among postmenopausal women.

Acute stress and working memory in older people

“…However, we have observed a specific effect of stress-induced cortisol response on retroactive interference (i.e. impairment in memory due to the interference of previously learned material) in middle-aged people (Almela et al, 2011a), but not in young adults (Hidalgo et al, 2014). Similarly, Lupien et al (1997) and Wolf et al (2001) found an impairing effect of cortisol increase on short-term word list recall.…”

“…These results coincide with a previous study by our group that showed an enhanced memory span in older women after a stress task. As in this study, this effect was not related to the stress-induced cortisol increase (Almela et al, 2011a). Given that cortisol may increase dopamine's actions in the PFC (a catecholamine that influences WM) (Arnsten, 2009), it is possible that, regardless of stress, changes in cortisol levels interact with dopamine levels, affecting WM.…”

“…Using a task designed to assess declarative memory, we found that stress improved memory span and impaired retroactive interference (a PFC-dependent executive ability) in women from 54 to Correspondence 1 Previous studies that investigated the effect of acute stress and/or cortisol increases on memory in older people have included samples with a mean age of older than 60 years and an age range from 52 to 83 years old (e.g. an age range from 54 to 72 in Almela et al (2011a); from 52 to 81 in Yehuda et al (2007); and from 59 to 76 in Wolf et al (2001)). To be consistent with the terms used in most of these studies, in this article, we refer to the participants as older people; however, it should be noted that in the present study and previous studies some participants are in the second half of the age range called middle-aged people (from 50 to 60 years old); therefore, the results and conclusions should also be applicable to them.…”

“…To be consistent with the terms used in most of these studies, in this article, we refer to the participants as older people; however, it should be noted that in the present study and previous studies some participants are in the second half of the age range called middle-aged people (from 50 to 60 years old); therefore, the results and conclusions should also be applicable to them. 72 years old (Almela et al, 2011a), but not in young adults (Hidalgo et al, 2014), suggesting that stress may have a sex-dependent effect on WM in older people.…”

Hippocampal Volume in Healthy Controls Given 3-Day Stress Doses of Hydrocortisone

“…Although this subgroup analysis was limited by the small numbers in each group, the findings suggest that women may show a larger reduction in hippocampal volume with 3 days of hydrocortisone exposure than men. Research on gender differences in the cognitive response to brief stress or corticosteroid administration suggest a greater cognitive change in women (Almela et al, 2011;Breitberg et al, 2013); however, a stronger relationship between stress-induced cortisol elevation and the change in memory in men than in women has also been reported (Wolf et al, 2001). In addition, a large study in a clinical population suggested that men were more likely than women to develop confusion or delirium with prescription corticosteroids (Fardet et al, 2012).…”