Abstract
The aim of this review was to examine the evidence for age-related changes of the hypothalamie-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in both physiological and pathological aging, on the basis of the many data in the literature, as well as of our personal findings. A statistically significant circadian rhythmicity of serum cortisol was maintained in elderly subjects, even if with a reduced amplitude of the 24 h fluctuations and a trend to an increase of the serum levels in the evening and at night-time, in comparison with young controls. Furthermore, an age-related impairment of HPA sensitivity to steroid feedback was present in elderly people. The occurrence of senile dementia amplified the changes already present in physiological aging. While the cortisol secretion was generally well maintained in aging, the adrenal production of dehydroepiandrosterone and of its sulfate (DHEAS) exhibited an age-related decline. Therefore, the cortisol/DHEAS molar ratio was significantly higher in elderly subjects and even more in demented ones, than in young controls. Due to the opposite effects of cortisol and DHEAS on the brain and particularly on the hippocampal region, the imbalance between glucocorticoids and androgens occurring in physiological and even more in pathological aging, may have adverse effects on the function of this region, whose key role in learning and memory is well known.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 319-329 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | European Journal of Endocrinology |
| Volume | 144 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 2001 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology
Cite this
Age-related changes of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis : Pathophysiological correlates. / Ferrari, E.; Cravello, I.; Muzzoni, B.; Casarotti, D.; Paltro, M.; Solerte, S. B.; Fioravanti, M.; Cuzzoni, G.; Pontiggia, B.; Magri, F.
In: European Journal of Endocrinology, Vol. 144, No. 4, 2001, p. 319-329.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Age-related changes of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
T2 - Pathophysiological correlates
AU - Ferrari, E.
AU - Cravello, I.
AU - Muzzoni, B.
AU - Casarotti, D.
AU - Paltro, M.
AU - Solerte, S. B.
AU - Fioravanti, M.
AU - Cuzzoni, G.
AU - Pontiggia, B.
AU - Magri, F.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - The aim of this review was to examine the evidence for age-related changes of the hypothalamie-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in both physiological and pathological aging, on the basis of the many data in the literature, as well as of our personal findings. A statistically significant circadian rhythmicity of serum cortisol was maintained in elderly subjects, even if with a reduced amplitude of the 24 h fluctuations and a trend to an increase of the serum levels in the evening and at night-time, in comparison with young controls. Furthermore, an age-related impairment of HPA sensitivity to steroid feedback was present in elderly people. The occurrence of senile dementia amplified the changes already present in physiological aging. While the cortisol secretion was generally well maintained in aging, the adrenal production of dehydroepiandrosterone and of its sulfate (DHEAS) exhibited an age-related decline. Therefore, the cortisol/DHEAS molar ratio was significantly higher in elderly subjects and even more in demented ones, than in young controls. Due to the opposite effects of cortisol and DHEAS on the brain and particularly on the hippocampal region, the imbalance between glucocorticoids and androgens occurring in physiological and even more in pathological aging, may have adverse effects on the function of this region, whose key role in learning and memory is well known.
AB - The aim of this review was to examine the evidence for age-related changes of the hypothalamie-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in both physiological and pathological aging, on the basis of the many data in the literature, as well as of our personal findings. A statistically significant circadian rhythmicity of serum cortisol was maintained in elderly subjects, even if with a reduced amplitude of the 24 h fluctuations and a trend to an increase of the serum levels in the evening and at night-time, in comparison with young controls. Furthermore, an age-related impairment of HPA sensitivity to steroid feedback was present in elderly people. The occurrence of senile dementia amplified the changes already present in physiological aging. While the cortisol secretion was generally well maintained in aging, the adrenal production of dehydroepiandrosterone and of its sulfate (DHEAS) exhibited an age-related decline. Therefore, the cortisol/DHEAS molar ratio was significantly higher in elderly subjects and even more in demented ones, than in young controls. Due to the opposite effects of cortisol and DHEAS on the brain and particularly on the hippocampal region, the imbalance between glucocorticoids and androgens occurring in physiological and even more in pathological aging, may have adverse effects on the function of this region, whose key role in learning and memory is well known.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035038612&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035038612&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 11275940
AN - SCOPUS:0035038612
VL - 144
SP - 319
EP - 329
JO - European Journal of Endocrinology
JF - European Journal of Endocrinology
SN - 0804-4643
IS - 4
ER -