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Abstract:
Stress and stress hormones, glucocorticoids (GCs), exert widespread
actions in central nervous system, ranging from the regulation of gene
transcription, cellular signaling, modulation of synaptic structure, and
transmission and glial function to behavior. Their actions are mediated
by glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors which are nuclear
receptors/transcription factors. While GCs primarily act to maintain
homeostasis by inducing physiological and behavioral adaptation,
prolonged exposure to stress and elevated GC levels may result in neuro-
and psychopathology. There is now ample evidence for cause-effect
relationships between prolonged stress, elevated GC levels, and
cognitive and mood disorders while the evidence for a link between
chronic stress/GC and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's
(AD) and Parkinson's (PD) diseases is growing. This brief review
considers some of the cellular mechanisms through which stress and GC
may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD and PD.
