Using saliva to measure endogenous cortisol in nursing home residents with advanced dementia. Res Nurs Health 2008 Jun;31(3):283-94
Date
01/30/2008Pubmed ID
18228609DOI
10.1002/nur.20254Scopus ID
2-s2.0-46249100997 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 19 CitationsAbstract
Two research teams determined the feasibility of saliva collection for cortisol measurement in nursing home residents with advanced dementia. Study aims were to: (a) determine if sufficient saliva could be obtained for assay and (b) examine whether cortisol values exhibited range and variability for meaningful interpretation. Useable samples were consistent across sites, suggesting that saliva collection for cortisol assay is a viable method in this setting. Cortisol values showed range and variability. More than half of the residents showed the normal adult pattern of high morning levels decreasing throughout the day. A third of the participants demonstrated an increase in the evening cortisol levels, while the remaining profiles were flat, suggesting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) dysregulation in this population.
Author List
Woods DL, Kovach CR, Raff H, Joosse L, Basmadjian A, Hegadoren KMAuthor
Hershel Raff PhD Professor in the Academic Affairs department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AgedAged, 80 and over
Analysis of Variance
Circadian Rhythm
Data Collection
Dementia
Feasibility Studies
Female
Geriatric Assessment
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
Los Angeles
Male
Mental Status Schedule
Nursing Assessment
Nursing Evaluation Research
Nursing Homes
Pituitary-Adrenal System
Saliva
Severity of Illness Index
Specimen Handling
Stress, Psychological
Wisconsin
