Research
Hormonal
Aging is associated with hyperactivation of the HPA axis, characterized by higher 24-hour mean cortisol levels and a shorter quiescent period.
Be aware that cortisol levels naturally rise with age. This may contribute to age-related metabolic changes. Prioritizing sleep quality and managing stress may help mitigate this natural increase.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
aging was associated, in both sexes, with a progressive increase of 24-hour mean levels from the 2nd to the 8th decade, associated with a shorter quiescent period and higher nadir values.
Why this rating
Based on analysis of nearly 200 temporal profiles of plasma cortisol.
Source
Impact of Sleep and Its Disturbances on Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity
M. Balbo et al. · International Journal of Endocrinology · 2010
DOI 10.1155/2010/759234
narrative_reviewCited 388×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Sleep loss and sleep disturbances activate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, resulting in elevated evening cortisol levels and a shortened quiescent period.Good
- Slow-wave sleep (SWS) exerts an inhibitory effect on cortisol secretion, contributing to the quiescent period of the HPA axis.Good
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