Neuroendocrine hypothesis of aging: the role of corticoadrenal steroids.
The age-related modifications of neuroendocrine secretions normally capable of integrative activity in the whole body might partly promote and amplify many aging phenomena. The quantitative and qualitative changes of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis are a significant example. The dampening of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) circadian fluctuation and the progressive decrease of DHEA/cortisol ratio are at the basis of multiple clinical implications: the shift from anabolic to catabolic status, the activation of atherosclerosis progression, the deterioration of immune competence, the impairment of cognitive and affective performances and the glico- and lipometabolic disorders. The hypothesis of a DHEA supplementation strategy comes out from these premises.
University of Parma, Parma, Italy. giorgiovalenti@libero.it
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D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000502:physiology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone