ROLE OF THE HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-GONADAL SYSTEM IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common from degenerative diseases of cerebrum which lead to the development of dementia. Because the exact causes of contraction of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are unknown, there is no adequate etiotropic therapy for this serious disease. Modern drugs present on the market, including cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA antagonists, only alleviate symptoms without affecting the progression of AD. The review presents the results of modern studies confirming the significant contribution of gonadotropinreleasing hormone, gonadotropins and sex steroids to the development of mental aging. It is emphasized that the study of the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal system in the etiopathogenesis of AD is certainly a promising area of psychoneuroendocrinology, which, perhaps, will lead to the development of new approaches to the treatment of this neurodegenerative disease. The contradictoriness of the data of a number of studies is noted and discussed.

Keywords

gonadotropin-releasing hormone / follicle-stimulating hormone / luteinizing hormone / estrogens / androgens / dementia / Alzheimer's disease / cognitive functions / pituitary gland / hypothalamus / hip pocampus

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Masalova O.O., Kazakova S.B., Sapronov N.S.