Cortisol awakening response and autobiographical memory in healthy older adults: The moderating role of negative reminiscence

Abstract

The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis’s response to stress, with cortisol as a key hormone, has an important impact on cognitive function. Specifically, the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR), an index of HPA axis functioning, has been linked to declarative memory performance. Autobiographical Memory (AM), a specific form of declarative memory, becomes especially relevant in aging due to its relationship with identity, emotional regulation, and cognitive functioning. However, engaging with the autobiographical past can become maladaptive when it is dominated by negative, self-critical reflections, a pattern referred to as negative reminiscence. This study aimed to examine whether the CAR and negative reminiscence independently predict the specificity of personal memories in healthy older adults, and whether their interaction further explains variability in AM specificity. A sample of 150 healthy older adults (aged 56–81) provided eight saliva samples over two consecutive days to assess the CAR, and they completed standardized measures of AM and reminiscence. Our results showed no significant direct associations between the CAR or negative reminiscence and AM specificity. However, moderation analyses revealed that the CAR significantly predicted a greater tendency to retrieve overgeneral memories, that is, less specific autobiographical memories, but only among individuals with higher negative reminiscence. These results suggest that the way individuals relate to their past plays a key role in the impact of physiological stress on autobiographical recall. The findings underscore the importance of considering both biological and emotional factors to better understand AM in aging.