Hair Cortisol as a Biomarker of Chronic Stress in Community-Dwelling Adults With Longstanding Multiple Sclerosis

This study investigated the use of hair cortisol concentration (HCC) as a biomarker for chronic stress in individuals with longstanding multiple sclerosis (MS). It involved 75 to 90 community-dwelling adults, predominantly white females with an average age of 66.8 years. The study found that while hair sample collection was feasible, HCC did not show significant linear relationships with self-reported stress measures, indicating the complexity of measuring chronic stress in MS. Employment status was significantly associated with higher HCC, suggesting a link between workforce participation and chronic stress. The study faced limitations such as not controlling for factors like alcohol consumption and medication use. It concluded that HCC could serve as a reliable biomarker for chronic stress, but future research should consider multi-method approaches and longitudinal designs to better understand the relationship between hair cortisol, perceived stress, and health outcomes in MS patients.