Salivary Cortisol Level, Salivary Flow Rate, and Masticatory Muscle Activity in Response to Acute Mental Stress: A Comparison between Aged and Young Women

Abstract

The study showed marked differences in the response to mental demands in aged as compared with young women. The mental stress, reflected by increases of salivary cortisol concentration, saliva flow rate, visual analogue scale ratings, and activity level of the jaw elevator muscles, was more pronounced in the aged women in response to the computer tasks.