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Presenter: Jack Scott Sarmiento

Faculty Sponsor: Reena Randhir

School: Springfield Technical Community College

Research Area: Biology

Session: Poster Session 2, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM, Auditorium, A43

ABSTRACT

Cortisol is a glucocorticoid, often referred to as the “stress hormone,” helps to mobilize energy. It is produced in the adrenal cortex and plays a major role in metabolism, immunity, and influences the fight or flight response. This research aimed to explore the physiological and psychological impacts of chronic high levels of cortisol. The chronic activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is responsible for the prolonged elevations in cortisol that increase allostatic load and overall health risk. This research studied the association between chronically elevated cortisol levels, cognitive performance and body weight by using a literature review of recent case studies in PubMed.
The main case studies included individuals with Cushing’s disease and individuals without it who participated in verbal IQ subtests. This disease was identified as a clinical model of chronic hypercortisolism related to poor verbal IQ, memory, and recall. The next study was the association between long-term cortisol levels in hair samples and body weight status. Participants exhibiting high cortisol levels were significantly more likely to be overweight or obese compared to those with low cortisol levels. These further showed evidence of cortisol-related effects on hippocampal functioning and visceral fat accumulation. The findings show a higher likelihood that obesity, poor memory, and recall performance is linked to chronically high levels. The precursors to this are anxiety, increased visceral and facial fat, and insomnia. In conclusion, prolonged cortisol elevation is associated with multiple metabolic and cognitive health risks. Future research should examine causal mechanisms and account for potential confounding factors such as mental health status, medication use, and sleep quality.