WHAT EFFECTS DO ELEVATED CORTISOL AND DEPLETED GLUTATHIONE HAVE ON BRAIN FUNCTION, AND ARE THEY OBSERVED IN CFS?
• Long-term cortisol elevation is known to damage the hippocampus, and GSH depletion is involved [75]. • Additional depletion of GSH would likely exacerbate the effects of elevated cortisol on the hippocampus. • The hippocampus is involved with memory, sleep, and control of the HPA axis. • Deficits in all these areas are seen in CFS. • Examination of the hippocampus in CFS by magnetic resonance spectroscopy suggested significantly lower metabolism in the right hippocampus [76]. • It seems likely that elevated cortisol and depleted GSH account for at least some of the CFS brain function deficits.
