What role does age play in the production of cortisol? Could regular sunlight exposure positively impact age-related declines in cortisol production?

How Age Impacts Cortisol Production

As human beings age, various physiological changes occur in their bodies, and these changes can impact the production of cortisol. Researchers have found that aging is associated with higher levels of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, throughout the day. This is believed to be due to the body's increased sensitivity to stress as it ages, leading to more extended periods of cortisol secretion.

This increase in cortisol production has been associated with several age-related health concerns such as memory loss, cardiovascular disease, and reduced immunity (Peavy, et al., 2007). Thus understanding the relationship between age and cortisol production is crucial in managing age-related health issues.

Sunlight Exposure and Age-Related Declines in Cortisol Production

Regular sunlight exposure may help to positively impact age-related declines in cortisol production. One reason for this is the direct influence of sunlight on cortisol production through the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the body's central stress response system (Touitou, et al., 2017).

Exposing the body to natural light during the day can help regulate the HPA axis lifecycle, consequently normalizing cortisol secretion patterns. This improved pattern of cortisol release can mitigate the effects of age-related increases in cortisol levels and associated health risks.

However, more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between sunlight, cortisol, and aging. While current findings suggest a positive relationship, it remains necessary to further quantify the degrees of sunlight exposure and optimal times of day for exposure to maximize the potential benefits on cortisol regularization.

References

Peavy, G. M., Salmon, D. P., Jacobson, M. W., Hervey, A., Gamst, A. C., Wolfson, T., ... & Galasko, D. (2007). Effects of chronic stress on memory decline in cognitively normal and mildly impaired older adults. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164(12), 1763-1768. Touitou, Y., Reinberg, A., & Touitou, D. (2017). Association between light at night, melatonin secretion, sleep deprivation, and the internal clock: Health impacts and mechanisms of circadian disruption. Life Sciences, 173, 94-106.