The role of gonadotropins and testosterone in the regulation of beta-amyloid metabolism
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Faculty
Faculty of Computing, Health and Science
School
School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Science / Centre for Alzheimer's Disease
RAS ID
8690
Abstract
Hormonal changes associated with ageing have been implicated in the increased risk of developing dementia and in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although age and the possession of the apolipoprotein 4 allele (APOE 4) are major risk factors for AD the actual trigger(s) of disease onset remain to be established. Sex hormones are considered likely candidates. Low serum levels of oestrogen in post-menopausal women and testosterone in andropausal men have been shown to be associated with AD. These hormones also play important roles in modulating beta amyloid (A) levels, the accumulation of which has a critical role in the cascade of pathogenic events that lead to neuronal degeneration in AD. It is also now becoming apparent that elevated levels of gonadotropins (particularly luteinizing hormone- LH) are also associated with increased risk of developing AD and have a role in the metabolism and accumulation of A. The complete mechanisms that underlie the effects of the sex steroids and gonadotropins on AD pathogenesis and whether one is secondary to the other or whether both have a role to play remains to be elucidated. This review focuses specifically on the sex hormone, testosterone and the gonadotropin luteinizing hormone (LH). It outlines the role of these hormones in regulating A metabolism and APP processing and discusses their potential as targets for developing effective therapeutic agents for AD.
DOI
10.1017/CBO9780511635700.028
Comments
Verdile, G. , & Martins, R. N. (2009). The role of gonadotropins and testosterone in the regulation of beta amyloid metabolism. In Hogervorst, E., Henderson, V. W., Gibbs, R. B., & Brinton, R. D. (Eds.). Hormones, Cognition and Dementia: State of the Art and Emergent Therapeutic Strategies (pp. 259-268). New York: Cambridge University Press. Available here