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Recent advances in the role of cortisol and metabolic syndrome in age-related degenerative diseases

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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).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geriatric Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, S. Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00199, Rome, Italy

    Antonio Martocchia, Manuela Stefanelli, Lavinia Toussan & Paolo Falaschi

  2. Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Viale S. Salvatore, Delta 6 Building, Coppito, 67100, L’Aquila, Italy

    Giulia Maria Falaschi & Claudio Ferri

Authors
  1. Antonio Martocchia
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  2. Manuela Stefanelli
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  3. Giulia Maria Falaschi
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  4. Lavinia Toussan
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  6. Paolo Falaschi
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Correspondence to Paolo Falaschi.

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Martocchia, A., Stefanelli, M., Falaschi, G.M. et al. Recent advances in the role of cortisol and metabolic syndrome in age-related degenerative diseases. Aging Clin Exp Res 28, 17–23 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-015-0353-0

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