Heart-brain-axis and Psychosocial Stress

Inclusion Criteria: * Women and men that are between 50-75 years of age * Post-menopausal status in women * Normal body weight (BMI\<30kg/m2) * Non-smoker or not smoking since ≥ 5 years or occasional smokers. Exclusion Criteria: * Written informed consent was not provided * History of arterial hypertension * History of diabetes * History of cardiovascular disease * History of neurological disorders * History of cancer (unless considered in remission since at least 5 years and not having necessitated a systemic chemotherapy and/or a brain radiotherapy) * Use of steroids interfering with biomarker levels