Risks and limits of Cortisol Senioren

Cortisol tests for seniors (saliva, blood, or urine) can provide insights into adrenal function, but they have significant limitations. Cortisol levels fluctuate with circadian rhythm, stress, sleep, medications, and illness. In older adults, regulation changes: baseline cortisol may be slightly elevated while the stress response is blunted. A single measurement is rarely diagnostic. Evidence for home tests claiming to detect 'adrenal fatigue' is weak (mechanistic, often marketing). Abnormal results should be confirmed by a physician using dynamic tests (e.g., dexamethasone suppression test). Risks include misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment with corticosteroids, which can cause osteoporosis, diabetes, and immunosuppression. Caveat: Do not self-diagnose or self-treat cortisol imbalances.