Impaired Cognitive Performance in Patients With Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion
Authors: Zhang Catherine D , Singh Sumitabh , Suresh Malavika , Ebbehøj Andreas Ladefoged , Stricker Nikki H , Mielke Michelle M , Khosla Sundeep , Rocca Walter A , Bancos Irina 
Published: May 2021

Background: Cognitive deficits in memory, language, and executive function have been described in Cushing’s syndrome, but the impact of mild cortisol secretion on cognition is unclear. Rather than overt hypercortisolism, mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) is typically associated with abnormal circadian cortisol production. Aim: To characterize the effect of MACS on cognitive performance. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis as part of an ongoing cohort study in patients with MACS compared to age and sex-matched referent subjects without cortisol excess. MACS was defined as serum cortisol concentration &gt;1.8 mcg/dL after the 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST), in the absence of signs and symptoms of overt Cushing syndrome. We used the National Institute of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery to assess cognitive performance. A series of seven IPad-based tests were administered to evaluate five key domains: 1) executive function, 2) episodic memory, 3) working memory, 4) language, and 5) processing speed. Performance was reported using fully corrected T-scores for age, sex, education, and race with a normative mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. T-scores were generated for the individual components as well as three summary measures: 1) fluid cognition (includes executive function, episodic memory, working memory, and processing speed), 2) crystallized cognition (includes language), and 3) total cognition (composite of fluid and crystalized cognition). Results: A total of 23 patients with MACS and 23 age and sex-matched referent subjects without cortisol excess were enrolled. The median age of diagnosis was 63 years (range, 51–81), and 26 (56%) were women. In the MACS cohort, median cortisol following 1 mg DST was 2.6 ug/dL (range, 1.9–13.0) with median ACTH of 8.5 pg/mL (range, 5.0–38.0) and median DHEA-S of 37 mcg/dL (range, 5.0- 141.0). On cognitive assessment, patients with MACS had lower total cognition (T-scores 50 vs. 54, p=0.05) and fluid cognition (T-scores 48 vs. 53, p=0.01) composite scores compared to referent subjects without cortisol excess. In particular, patients with MACS performed worse on tests of executive function (Dimensional Change Card Sort: T-scores 55 vs. 63, p= 0.02 and Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention: T-scores 45 vs. 52, p=0.01). There were no significant differences observed in the remaining individual domains of language, processing speed, working memory, and episodic memory, or crystallized cognition. Conclusions: MACS is associated with impaired total cognition, and in particular, executive function and fluid cognition. These findings suggest that patients with MACS are susceptible to cortisol-mediated changes in the brain. Additional studies should examine the contribution of neuropsychiatric symptoms on cognition in MACS, and possible improvement following treatment for cortisol excess.