HPA axis in major depression: cortisol, clinical symptomatology and genetic variation predict cognition

Can Variation in Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA)-Axis Activity Explain the Relationship between Depression and Cognition in Bipolar Patients?

BACKGROUND Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is thought to be associated with more mood symptoms and worse cognitive functioning. This study examined whether variation in HPA axis activity underlies the association between mood symptoms and cognitive functioning. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In 65 bipolar patients cognitive functioning was measured in domains of...

Genetics of HPA-axis, depression and suicidality.

The ultimate consequence of mental ill-health, suicidal behavior (SB), is a significant problem in most societies of the world. Suicide causes about one million deaths worldwide each year, and 10-20 times more people attempt suicide. The causes of why certain people engage in SB are complex, involving for e.g., both environmental and genetic factors, and interactions in-between. Well-establishe...

Diurnal Variation in Peripheral (Hair) vs Central (Saliva) HPA Axis Cortisol Concentrations

Cortisol concentrations in hair and saliva collected from male and female adults over a 15-hour period were compared for differences in overall level and cyclic pattern. Typical diurnal fluctuations were noted for both salivary and hair cortisol, with some individual differences that are congruent with the previous literature. Issues of the link between central and peripheral HPA axes are raise...

Heterogeneity in HPA axis dysregulation and serotonergic vulnerability to depression

Variability in the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) gene can influence the risk of depression associated with adversity, as well as cortisol stress reactivity, although not consistently. No study has examined the impact of both a stressful environment and corticotropic-axis dysfunction on depression, as a function of 5-HTTLPR. This population-based study included 334 subjects aged 65 and older....

August 16,2007 Relation of Genes Regulating the HPA-axis to Major Depression and Suicidality;Novel Findings