Cortisol News and Research

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Cortisol is a hormone made by the adrenal cortex (the outer layer of the adrenal gland). It helps the body use glucose (a sugar), protein, and fats. Cortisol made in the laboratory is called hydrocortisone. It is used to treat many conditions, including inflammation, allergies, and some cancers. Cortisol is a type of glucocorticoid hormone.

Youth who work with horses experience substantial reduction in stress

New research from Washington State University reveals how youth who work with horses experience a substantial reduction in stress - and the evidence lies in kids' saliva.

25 Apr 2014

DNA modifications in blood are directly related to changes in brain tissues, say researchers

Johns Hopkins researchers say they have confirmed suspicions that DNA modifications found in the blood of mice exposed to high levels of stress hormone — and showing signs of anxiety — are directly related to changes found in their brain tissues.

9 Apr 2014

Researchers discover hotspot L205R mutation is closely associated with adrenocortical tumors

Chinese researchers from Rui-Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, BGI, and other institutions have discovered that the activating hotspot L205R mutation in PRKACA gene was closely associated with adrenocortical tumors (ACTs), and the relationship of recurrently mutated DOT1L and CLASP2 with ACTs' other subtypes.

7 Apr 2014

Study highlights importance of stress management, healthy lifestyle habits for people with migraine

Migraine sufferers who experienced reduced stress from one day to the next are at significantly increased risk of migraine onset on the subsequent day, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the Montefiore Headache Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University.

27 Mar 2014

Expert highlights the importance of gender-specific approach for treating diabetes mellitus

The international guidelines on the drug-based therapy of diabetes mellitus specify which factors need to be taken into account during treatment.

27 Mar 2014

Adult day care services may protect family caregivers against harmful effects of stress

Family caregivers show an increase in the beneficial stress hormone DHEA-S on days when they use an adult day care service for their relatives with dementia, according to researchers at Penn State and the University of Texas at Austin.

26 Mar 2014

Researchers find stress can delay pregnancy and double risk of infertility

Having difficulty getting pregnant can be an incredibly stressful experience for any couple. Now, for the first time, researchers have data that suggests preconception stress might play a role in infertility.

24 Mar 2014

Improving self-esteem provides real health benefits in seniors, says researcher

The importance of boosting self-esteem is normally associated with the trials and tribulations of adolescence. But new research from Concordia University shows that it's even more important for older adults to maintain and improve upon those confidence levels as they enter their twilight years.

13 Mar 2014

Researchers examine mothers’ condition during maintenance period after child's treatment for ALL

"It's a whole new cancer world" and "I don't remember what it's like to have sleep" were the most common themes of mothers interviewed by University of Colorado Cancer Center researchers during the maintenance period after a child's treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

12 Mar 2014

Yoga offers unique benefits for women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy

For women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy, yoga offers unique benefits beyond fighting fatigue, according to research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

4 Mar 2014

New study may open door to better diagnosis, treatment for chronic insomnia

Johns Hopkins researchers report that people with chronic insomnia show more plasticity and activity than good sleepers in the part of the brain that controls movement.

3 Mar 2014

Study investigates how biology, social factors interact within marriage to affect heart health

Does the stress of marriage contribute to heart disease, which accounts for one of every four deaths in the United States?

28 Feb 2014

LMU researchers identify genetic mutations that result in overproduction of cortisol

An international team of researchers led by an endocrinologist at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich has identified genetic mutations that result in uncontrolled synthesis and secretion of the stress hormone cortisol.

28 Feb 2014

Medicines that mimic body's natural systems can prevent debilitating side effects

Debilitating side effects associated with prescription medication for some of today's most common conditions could be eradicated if they mimicked the body's natural hormone secretion cycles, a new report has said.

20 Feb 2014

Study: Acute family stress can affect children's immune systems

High family stress can lead to the child's immune system being affected, as a research group at the School of Health Sciences at Jönköping University and the Faculty of Health Sciences at Linköping University in Sweden shows in a study being published in the renowned American periodical Journal of Immunology.

19 Feb 2014

High levels of stress hormone cortisol may contribute to risk aversion in traders

High levels of the stress hormone cortisol may contribute to the risk aversion and 'irrational pessimism' found among bankers and fund managers during financial crises, according to a new study.

18 Feb 2014

Researchers identify first biomarker for major depression

Teenage boys who show a combination of depressive symptoms and elevated levels of the 'stress hormone' cortisol are up to fourteen times more likely to develop major depression than those who show neither trait, according to research funded by the Wellcome Trust.

18 Feb 2014

Extreme loneliness can increase premature death by 14% in older adults

Feeling extreme loneliness can increase an older person's chances of premature death by 14 percent, according to research by John Cacioppo, professor of psychology at the University of Chicago.

17 Feb 2014

Researchers pinpoint neural circuitry that promotes stress-induced anxiety

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 18 percent of American adults suffer from anxiety disorders, characterized as excessive worry or tension that often leads to other physical symptoms. Previous studies of anxiety in the brain have focused on the amygdala, an area known to play a role in fear.

31 Jan 2014

New study sheds light on the progression and management of ‘silent’ adrenal tumours

CT scans are increasingly performed for a variety of medical indications, including for general health screening, which is growing in popularity. An estimated 4% of CT scans will coincidentally uncover a tumour in the adrenal gland, with no associated clinical symptoms. However, until now, evidence on how to manage these ‘silent’ tumours has been lacking, despite the fact that the growing demand for CT scans is likely to lead to increasing numbers of detections.

30 Jan 2014