title: Recent advances in the role of cortisol and metabolic syndrome in age-related degenerative diseases.
abstract: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) presents an increasing prevalence in elderly people. A significant role in MetS is played by the stress response and cortisol. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity is increased by central (loss of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors) and peripheral (11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, 11β-HSD1, hyperactivity) mechanisms. The HPA hyperactivity has been found in chronic diseases affecting the endocrine (abdominal obesity with MetS, type 2 diabetes), cardiovascular (atherosclerosis, essential hypertension), and nervous systems (dementia, depression), in aging. A novel therapeutic approach (11β-HSD1 inhibition) is promising in treating the HPA axis hyperactivity in chronic diseases with MetS. A large-scale national clinical trial (AGICO, AGIng, and COrtisol study) has been proposed by our group to evaluate the role of cortisol and MetS in the main pathologies of aging (vascular and degenerative dementia, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, abdominal obesity).
authors: Geriatric Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00199, Rome, Italy. a_martocchia@virgilio.it.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Martocchia
authors: Geriatric Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00199, Rome, Italy.
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Stefanelli
authors: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Viale S. Salvatore, Delta 6 Building, Coppito, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors: Giulia Maria
authors: GM
authors: Falaschi
authors: Geriatric Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00199, Rome, Italy.
authors: Lavinia
authors: L
authors: Toussan
authors: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Viale S. Salvatore, Delta 6 Building, Coppito, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Ferri
authors: Geriatric Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00199, Rome, Italy. paolo.falaschi@uniroma1.it.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Falaschi
mesh_terms: D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000378:metabolism; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D043205:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1; Aging; Cortisol; Degenerative diseases; Metabolic syndrome