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Brain Under Stress and Alzheimer's Disease
Boris Mravec1,2, Lubica Horvathova3, Alexandra Padova4,3
1Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Sasinkova 2, 813 72, Bratislava, Slovakia. boris.mravec@fmed.uniba.sk.
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
|July 13, 2017
Summary
Chronic stress negatively impacts brain health and may contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD) development. Interventions targeting stress responses offer potential strategies for AD prevention and management.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Modern society faces widespread stressors impacting individuals differently.
- Chronic stress response activation is linked to various somatic and neuropsychiatric diseases.
- The role of stress in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the intricate role of stress in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- To elucidate how stress mediators affect neuronal homeostasis, metabolism, plasticity, and survival.
- To investigate the indirect pathways through which stress-related peripheral disturbances contribute to AD neuropathology.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental, clinical, and epidemiological data.
- Analysis of neuroendocrine and behavioral changes associated with stress response.
- Examination of direct and indirect effects of stress mediators on brain function and AD pathology.
Main Results:
- Chronic stress mediators exert direct detrimental effects on neuronal metabolism, plasticity, and survival.
- Stress-induced hormonal and behavioral changes can lead to peripheral disturbances (hypertension, insulin resistance).
- These peripheral disturbances may indirectly promote neuropathological processes in AD.
Conclusions:
- Stress-induced detrimental effects are significant etiological factors in Alzheimer's disease.
- Behavioral and pharmacological interventions targeting stress responses are promising for AD prevention.
- Stress management strategies may represent a key approach to attenuate AD progression.
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