Relationship Between Basal Cortisol Level and Structural Brain Development in Infancy

Stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to high cortisol production, which is associated with damage to certain brain regions. We investigate the role of basal cortisol in shaping brain development in infancy through 2 questions: Q1) Are basal cortisol levels in early infancy associated with brain development during the first year of life? Q2) Do neonatal hippocampal and amygdala volumes predict cortisol levels later in infancy?

Source: Biological Psychiatry - April 29, 2024 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Ann Alex, Mackenzie Green, Claudia Buss, Emil Cornea, Jerod Rasmussen, John Gilmore, Kai Xia, Martin Styner, Pathik Wadhwa, Paul M. Thompson, Sonja Entringer, Gustavo de los Campos, Rebecca Knickmeyer, ENIGMA-ORIGINs Group Tags: SYMPOSIUM Source Type: research