Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1995-7-12
pubmed:abstractText
The neuropathologic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are very prominent in the hippocampus, a brain site which is pivotal for the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system. Thus, the combined dexamethasone-suppression/CRH-stimulation-test outcome in patients with AD was compared to that of healthy elderly controls to assess--with a more refined neuroendocrine challenge procedure--HPA function in AD. Cortisol secretion after dexamethasone (DEX) pretreatment and before CRH was increased in Alzheimer's patients and 21% of this group were DST-nonsuppressors. None of the healthy control subjects escaped DEX-induced suppression of cortisol. However, after additional CRH administration, AD patients released significantly less cortisol and ACTH than the control subjects. No correlations were found between any of the endocrine parameters and degree of severity of dementia. It is concluded that the DST part of the DEX/CRH test better reflects glucocorticoid feedback disturbances, probably at a suprapituitary level. The CRH part of the DEX/CRH-test outcome might indicate the loss of endogenous CRH-Arginine-Vasopressin (AVP) synergism of the HPA system of these patients.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0197-4580
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
16
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
205-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:articleTitle
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system function in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
pubmed:affiliation
University of Basle, Department of Psychiatry, Switzerland.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Clinical Trial