title: ACTH and cortisol secretion in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: The "glucocorticoid cascade hypothesis" for pathological ageing of the brain is supported by strong experimental data, but the clinical correlates are far less clear. The basal ACTH and cortisol secretion have been studied before and after the dexamethasone suppression test in patients in the early stages of clinically probable Alzheimer's disease and in controls, and the results were all normal. These findings do not support the hypothesis that the pathological brain ageing of Alzheimer's type is caused by hyperactivity of the pituitary-adrenal axis.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Institute S Raffaele, Neurology Department, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Airaghi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gramigna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Truci
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Canal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catania
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone