Acute Plasma Abeta Responses to Stress

Aim 1: determine whether acute exposure to stress (increasing sympathetic nervous system activation) increases plasma amyloid-beta-40 and amyloid-beta-42 in the five hours following exposure.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy adult weighing at least 110 pounds
• No chronic conditions or illness
• Taking no medications or drugs that might alter the stress response (e.g., corticosteroids, beta-blockers, and others)
• Not using any hormone-containing medication (e.g., hormonal contraceptives, hormone replacement, etc.)
• No contraindications for cold pressor test exposure (high blood pressure, heart disease, dysrhythmia, peripheral vascular disease, any other cardiovascular disorder, diabetes, vasculitis, lupus, tingling or numbness in the hands and/or feet, cryoglobulinemia, and Reynaud's phenomenon)
• No history of fainting during blood draws
• No phobia of having their blood drawn
• No general history of fainting or seizures
• Not currently diagnosed with a mood disorder (e.g., major depressive disorder)
• Not pregnant in the past 12 months
• Not lactating in the past 12 months
• Not trying to become pregnant if premenopausal
• Experienced natural menopause if postmenopausal
• Be non-smokers
• Be fluent in English

Exclusion criteria

• Unwilling to be filmed during the stress task OR unwilling to sign the waiver allowing their filmed responses to be used in scientific presentations