CORTISOL, ACTH, AND CARDIOVASCULAR-RESPONSE TO A COGNITIVE CHALLENGE PARADIGM IN AGING AND DEPRESSION

Aging and hypercortisolism may be associated with alterations of stres s-induced hormone release. We therefore studied 20 normal controls of two different age groups (< 30 and > 60 yr of age) and 20 age-matched patients with major depression; baseline ACTH and cortisol secretion ( between 1400 and 1700) as well as blood pressure and heart rate and th eir responses to a 45-min lasting signal detection task (1705-1750) we re determined. No difference in basal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal ( HPA) system activity between young and older healthy controls was note d. The cognitive challenge resulted in an increase in stress-induced h ormonal secrection that was greater in the older controls than in thei r young counterparts. Basal hypercortisolemia and, at baseline, heart rates were higher in depressed patients, regardless of age. Blood pres sure was elevated in older healthy controls as well as depressed patie nts. With the exception of the young depressed patients, all groups re sponded with an increase of the cardiovascular parameters during stres s.