Cortisol Levels and Hippocampus Volumes in Healthy Preadolescent Children

Background Research in animal models has demonstrated that elevated levels of glucocorticoids can inflict damage within the hippocampus. In adult humans, elevated cortisol levels have been associated with reduced hippocampal volumes; however, normative data in children are not available. The objective of this study was to examine possible associations of serum cortisol levels with hippocampal volumes and morphology in healthy children. Methods Morning serum cortisol levels and hippocampus magnetic resonance imaging were measured in 17 healthy children (8 girls, 9 boys) between 7 and 12 years of age. Results Cortisol levels were not associated with total hippocampal volumes; however, with an analysis of surface morphology, significant associations were found for regionally specific portions of the hippocampus. Positive associations were detected for the anterior segment of the hippocampus and inverse associations along the lateral aspects of the hippocampus. Conclusions Associations of cortisol levels with regionally specific variations in hippocampal morphology were detected during early development in healthy preadolescent children.