Salivary cortisol levels were measured in 68 elderly healthy people (24 men; 44 women) followed by completion of the BDI, MMSE, and FAB from 2004 to 2006. The same cohort underwent BDI again from 2007 to 2009.
In healthy elderly women subject, a significant positive correlation was found between salivary cortisol levels at baseline and BDI scores at follow-up, but not at baseline. Salivary cortisol levels at baseline were not correlated with the score of either MMSE or FAB. When the cut-off point of BDI scores were set at 20/21, logistic regression analyses revealed that salivary cortisol levels at baseline had a significant positive relationship with a later depressive state. Age and gender were also significantly related with a later depressive state.
The present study involves small number of participants.
Higher salivary cortisol levels were associated with a later depressive state in elderly healthy women living in rural community. Salivary cortisol might be a predictive marker for a later depressive state in elderly women.