LINKING DHEAS DIURNAL RHYTHMS AND SLEEP: EVIDENCE OF ASSOCIATIONS WITH SLEEP DISTURBANCES AND SUBJECTIVE SLEEP RATINGS

Authors

Abigail S. Marne* MS, Georgia Insitute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332Follow
Scott D. Moffat PhD, Georgia Insitute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332Follow

Abstract

The androgen hormone, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and its sulfate, DHEAS, is a biomarker of various cognitive and health outcomes, and its diurnal rhythm has been linked to sleep quality. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between DHEAS diurnal values and specific sleep quality measures. Participants (Mage = 50.3 years, SD = 19.33, range = 20-80, N = 183, 104 females) first completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); participants subsequently completed a modified PSQI immediately after waking for 10 consecutive days, which allowed for a Daily Subjective Sleep Quality (DSSQ) rating that was then averaged across all days. Additionally, participants provided saliva samples seven times a day for 10 consecutive days. The saliva was assayed for DHEAS. Daily DHEAS levels were averaged across the 10 days to provide a Mean DHEAS value. Diurnal Fluctuation of DHEAS, operationalized as the daily Peak-Nadir Difference (PND) averaged across all 10 days, was also extracted from the DHEAS data. Mean DHEAS and Component 5 of the PSQI (Sleep Disturbance) were significantly negatively correlated (p < 0.01), such that fewer sleep disturbances were correlated with higher Mean DHEAS levels. Hierarchical linear regression showed that Sleep Disturbances significantly predicted Mean DHEAS (Model Comparison Approach: p < 0.01; Likelihood Ratio Test further: p < 0 .01). Additionally, DSSQ and PND were positively correlated (p < 0.05). Hierarchical linear regression showed that PND significantly predicted DSSQ (Model Comparison Approach: p < 0.01, Likelihood Ratio Test: p < 0.01). These results uphold previous literature, and we identified specific attributes of sleep quality (i.e. Sleep Disturbances) which predict Mean DHEAS. We also have classified new diurnal dynamics (i.e. Diurnal Fluctuation) which correspond to DSSQ. These results offer more specific insight into the relationship between DHEAS and sleep quality and may inform the clinical application of DHEA.

Acknowledgements

The research was funded by the NIH

Recommended Citation

Marne*, Abigail S. MS and Moffat, Scott D. PhD (2025) "LINKING DHEAS DIURNAL RHYTHMS AND SLEEP: EVIDENCE OF ASSOCIATIONS WITH SLEEP DISTURBANCES AND SUBJECTIVE SLEEP RATINGS," Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 83, No. 1, Article 71.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.gaacademy.org/gjs/vol83/iss1/71