An adventitious role of cortisol in degenerative processes due to decreased opposition by insulin: implications for...

Cortisol can be implicated as contributing to a number of degenerative processes including arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and deterioration of muscle and the immune system. These effects of cortisol are amplified in diabetes due to a diminished opposition by insulin. In addition, this phenomena may not be restricted to diabetes. There is evidence that tissue sensitivity to insulin generally decreases with age, although insulin levels and metabolism may remain constant; this is not generally true for cortisol. This results in an increased cortisol activity with some pathological consequences which are most evident in vascular connective tissue and the immune system. The decrease in tissue responsiveness to insulin with respect to cortisol may reflect relative aging differences in the corresponding receptor-effector systems.