Atypical evening cortisol profile induces visual recognition memory deficit in healthy human subjects

doi:10.1186/1756-6606-1-4

Molecular Brain

Volume 1

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Research

Atypical evening cortisol profile induces visual recognition memory deficit in healthy human subjects

Heather Gilpin¹^,2 , Daniel Whitcomb²^,3 and Kwangwook Cho¹^,2^,3

¹Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK

²Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, UK

³The MRC Centre for Synaptic Plasticity, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS1 3NY, UK

author email corresponding author email

Molecular Brain 2008, 1:4doi:10.1186/1756-6606-1-4


Published:	21 August 2008

Abstract

Background

Diurnal rhythm-mediated endogenous cortisol levels in humans are characterised by a peak in secretion after awakening that declines throughout the day to an evening trough. However, a significant proportion of the population exhibits an atypical cycle of diurnal cortisol due to shift work, jet-lag, aging, and mental illness.

Results

The present study has demonstrated a correlation between elevation of cortisol in the evening and deterioration of visual object recognition memory. However, high evening cortisol levels have no effect on spatial memory.

Conclusion

This study suggests that atypical evening salivary cortisol levels have an important role in the early deterioration of recognition memory. The loss of recognition memory, which is vital for everyday life, is a major symptom of the amnesic syndrome and early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, this study will promote a potential physiologic marker of early deterioration of recognition memory and a possible diagnostic strategy for Alzheimer's disease.