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Articles

Cumulative Load of Depressive Symptoms Is Associated With Cortisol Awakening Response in Very Old Age

 

Abstract

This study examined links of cumulative and present depressive symptoms with present cortisol diurnal profiles in oldest-old adults. Five waves of data from 50 older adults (M age = 89.05 years; 64% women) who participated in the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing were used to combine 15 years of longitudinal data with seven cortisol samples per day over a one-week period. Findings revealed that individuals with more past depressive symptoms showed a lower cortisol awakening response (CAR). Interestingly, present depressive symptoms were not associated with the CAR. These findings inform our understanding of distal health factors in very old age.

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Notes on contributors

Helena Chui

Helena Chui, School of Psychology, Flinders University; Christiane A. Hoppmann, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia; Denis Gerstorf, Institute of Psychology, Humboldt University; Ruth Walker, Faculty of Health Sciences, Flinders University; Mary A. Luszcz, School of Psychology & Flinders Centre for Ageing Studies, Flinders University.

Christiane A. Hoppmann

Helena Chui, School of Psychology, Flinders University; Christiane A. Hoppmann, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia; Denis Gerstorf, Institute of Psychology, Humboldt University; Ruth Walker, Faculty of Health Sciences, Flinders University; Mary A. Luszcz, School of Psychology & Flinders Centre for Ageing Studies, Flinders University.

Denis Gerstorf

Helena Chui, School of Psychology, Flinders University; Christiane A. Hoppmann, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia; Denis Gerstorf, Institute of Psychology, Humboldt University; Ruth Walker, Faculty of Health Sciences, Flinders University; Mary A. Luszcz, School of Psychology & Flinders Centre for Ageing Studies, Flinders University.

Ruth Walker

Helena Chui, School of Psychology, Flinders University; Christiane A. Hoppmann, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia; Denis Gerstorf, Institute of Psychology, Humboldt University; Ruth Walker, Faculty of Health Sciences, Flinders University; Mary A. Luszcz, School of Psychology & Flinders Centre for Ageing Studies, Flinders University.

Mary A. Luszcz

Helena Chui, School of Psychology, Flinders University; Christiane A. Hoppmann, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia; Denis Gerstorf, Institute of Psychology, Humboldt University; Ruth Walker, Faculty of Health Sciences, Flinders University; Mary A. Luszcz, School of Psychology & Flinders Centre for Ageing Studies, Flinders University.

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