Acetyl-L-carnitine normalizes pituitary-adrenocortical hyperactivity in pathological ageing brain

G. Nappi; E. Martignoni; E. Sinforiani; F. Facchinetti; A. R. Genazzani

Acetyl-L-carnitine normalizes pituitary-adrenocortical hyperactivity in pathological ageing brain

G. Nappi, E. Martignoni, E. Sinforiani, F. Facchinetti, A. R. Genazzani

Fondazione "Istituto Neurologico Casimiro Mondino"

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The prevalence of glucocorticoid hypersecretion and the loss of hippocampal inhibition of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in Alzheimer type dementia (ATD) underlie the 'glucocorticoid cascade' hypothesis for a neuroendocrine definition of aging. Therefore we measured, in mild to moderate demented patients, plasma B-endorphin and cortisol levels, which, in 41% of the subjects were both higher than 2 SD of mean control values. The treatment with Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) normalized the highest values, while piracetam did not. The possibilities that this effect is due to the cholinergic activity of ALC and/or its action in preventing the loss of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors after cold stress are suggested.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	291-292
Number of pages	2
Journal	Medical Science Research
Volume	16
Issue number	6
Publication status	Published - 1988

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
Medicine(all)

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abstract = "The prevalence of glucocorticoid hypersecretion and the loss of hippocampal inhibition of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in Alzheimer type dementia (ATD) underlie the 'glucocorticoid cascade' hypothesis for a neuroendocrine definition of aging. Therefore we measured, in mild to moderate demented patients, plasma B-endorphin and cortisol levels, which, in 41% of the subjects were both higher than 2 SD of mean control values. The treatment with Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) normalized the highest values, while piracetam did not. The possibilities that this effect is due to the cholinergic activity of ALC and/or its action in preventing the loss of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors after cold stress are suggested.",

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AU - Sinforiani, E.

AU - Facchinetti, F.

AU - Genazzani, A. R.

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AB - The prevalence of glucocorticoid hypersecretion and the loss of hippocampal inhibition of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in Alzheimer type dementia (ATD) underlie the 'glucocorticoid cascade' hypothesis for a neuroendocrine definition of aging. Therefore we measured, in mild to moderate demented patients, plasma B-endorphin and cortisol levels, which, in 41% of the subjects were both higher than 2 SD of mean control values. The treatment with Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) normalized the highest values, while piracetam did not. The possibilities that this effect is due to the cholinergic activity of ALC and/or its action in preventing the loss of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors after cold stress are suggested.

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