Targeting 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in brain: therapy for cognitive aging?
Joyce Yau1, Alasdair MacLullich2, Jonathan Seckl3
1a Alzheimer's Research Trust Carter Fellow and RCUK Academic Fellow, Endocrinology Unit, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK joyce.yau@ed.ac.uk.
Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism
|October 7, 2018
Summary
High glucocorticoid levels may drive cognitive decline in aging. Inhibiting the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 shows promise for novel dementia treatments, unlike current non-clinical methods.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Dementia care costs surpass cardiovascular disease and cancer combined, with cognitive decline imposing significant human and economic burdens.
- Underlying mechanisms of cognitive decline are poorly understood, limiting treatment options.
- Cumulative exposure to high glucocorticoid levels is a leading hypothesis for age-related cognitive decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore novel therapeutic strategies for age-related cognitive decline.
- To investigate the potential of inhibiting 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) as a treatment for cognitive dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing data from cellular, mouse, and human studies.
- Focus on the role of glucocorticoids and the enzyme 11β-HSD1 in cognitive function.
- Evaluation of potential clinical applicability of interventions.
Main Results:
- Current methods to lower glucocorticoids (adrenalectomy, neonatal handling) are not clinically applicable.
- Inhibition of the glucocorticoid-amplifying enzyme 11β-HSD1 is suggested by recent data.
- Evidence from cells, mice, and humans points to 11β-HSD1 inhibition as a potential therapeutic avenue.
Conclusions:
- Inhibiting 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 represents a promising novel therapeutic approach for age-related cognitive decline.
- This strategy may offer a clinically applicable method to mitigate the costs associated with dementia and cognitive impairment.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Cognitive Therapy
1.0K
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
1.0K
01:25Beck's Cognitive Therapy
391
Cognitive therapy is a psychological approach designed to address distortions in thinking, which can lead to negative emotions and unrealistic beliefs. These cognitive distortions often influence how individuals interpret and respond to situations, exacerbating emotional distress. Below are some prevalent cognitive distortions, their characteristics, and examples of how they manifest in thought processes.
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
Arbitrary Inference
Arbitrary inference involves making conclusions without sufficient...
391
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
8.9K
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
8.9K
01:14Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development
1.7K
The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
Exploration...
1.7K
01:38Cognitive Dissonance
37.5K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
37.5K
01:26Aging
703
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
703