Cognitive Function in Adrenal Cortisol Insufficiency

What is the Purpose of this Study?

The purpose of this study is to learn whether patients with low levels of the hormone cortisol, a condition known as adrenal cortisol insufficiency (ACI), experience changes in their cognitive function (how they think, learn, remember, or make decisions). Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that plays a crucial role in maintaining metabolic balance and regulating the body's stress response; it also supports normal brain function. Participants in this study will have ACI or are expected to have normal cortisol levels (to participate in the control/comparison group). Researchers also aim to discover new biological molecules (biomarkers) found in blood that are associated with cognitive function. These molecules may help diagnose and possibly treat undesired changes in cognitive function in patients with ACI. Participants will attend 2 in-clinic visits, in addition to providing blood and saliva samples and completing online cognitive tests. They will also be asked to complete questionnaires assessing self-reported symptoms of stress, resilience, sleep habits, and overall quality of life. Healthy control participants will undergo a cosyntropin stimulation test (a test that measures how well the adrenal glands respond to the adrenocorticotropic hormone) to confirm adrenal cortisol sufficiency.