Neurodegeneration
Medical Studies on DHEA – Neurodegeneration
DHEA has been shown to be involved in many brain functions. For example, it supports memory performance, helps to maintain a healthy mood and protects against anxiety — both in young and older people. At the same time, DHEA helps counteract stress by promoting the breakdown of harmful stress hormones.
Cortisol-DHEA Ratio
The cortisol-DHEA ratio is an important indicator of a possible imbalance of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, a system that controls many bodily processes, such as the stress response, mood and emotions. Studies have concluded that low DHEA levels in particular are associated with depressive symptoms.
Healthy Aging
If, as in advanced age, the balance between DHEA and cortisol is disturbed due to very low levels of DHEA, it can have significant effects on concentration, memory and stress perception. Clinical studies have shown that restoring physiological blood levels of DHEA increases the overall sense of well-being in the elderly. The neuroprotective properties of DHEA are also considered to have promising potential for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Here, DHEA appears to act as an independent hormone and is not metabolized into other hormones.
Medical Studies on DHEA – Neurodegeneration
Correlation Between the Different Types of Antipsychotics and Serum Cortisol, Dehidroepiandrosterone Sulfat and their Ratio in Schizophrenia
Evidence for disturbances in HPA activation and abnormal HPA regulatory mechanisms in schizophrenia is accumulating.
The effects of puberty and its hormones on subcortical brain development
Puberty triggers a period of structural “re-organization” in the brain, when rising hormone levels act via receptors to influence morphology. However, our understanding of these neuroendocrine processes in humans remains poor.
DHEA as a Biomarker of Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Psychosocial stress is a significant public health problem inducing consequences for quality of life. Results about the use of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as a biomarker of acute stress are conflicting. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to demonstrate that DHEA levels could be a biomarker of stress.
Low neuroactive steroids identifies a biological subtype of depression in adults with human immunodeficiency virus on suppressive antiretroviral therapy
The prevalence and mortality risk of depression in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) is higher than in the general population, yet biomarkers for therapeutic targeting are unknown. In the current study, we aimed to identify plasma metabolites associated with depressive symptoms in people with HIV receiving ART.
The use of saliva steroids (cortisol and DHEA-s) as biomarkers of changing stress levels in people with dementia and their caregivers: a pilot study
The rationale was to explore the efficacy/sensitivity of using morning and evening cortisol levels as biomarkers for stress reduction in persons with dementia (PWDs) and their family caregivers (FCGs) participating in a music intervention program.
The aging GABAergic system and its nutritional support
Aging is associated with a decline in hormones and an associated decline in GABAergic function and calcium and ion current dysregulation. Neurosteroid hormones act as direct calcium channel blockers, or they can act indirectly on calcium channels through their interaction with GABA receptors.
Cortisol to Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate ratio and executive function in bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with impairment in cognitive domains such as verbal memory and executive functions. Very few studies have assessed dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) in BD and its relation to cognitive functioning despite evidence showing its regulatory effects on glucocorticoid action. The aim of our study was to explore the association of cortisol, DHEA-S, and cortisol to DHEA-S ratio with visuospatial memory and executive functioning in BD.
Cortisol-dehydroepiandrosterone ratios are inversely associated with hippocampal and prefrontal brain volume in schizophrenia
While high levels of glucocorticoids are generally neuro-damaging, a related adrenal steroid, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), has anti-glucocorticoid and neuroprotective properties. Previous work has shown increased circulating levels of DHEA and abnormal cortisol/DHEA ratios in people with schizophrenia, however reports are limited and their relationship to neuropathology is unclear.
Cortisol, DHEA and DHEA-S during exposure therapy in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder – secretion patterns and prediction of treatment response
The cortisol response in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) during exposure with response prevention (ERP), a stressful but very effective psychotherapeutic treatment, has shown contradictory findings in three prior studies with low sample sizes.
Associations between dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and cognitive function in 5,061 older men and women in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Despite extensive observational and intervention research, the association between concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and cognition at older ages remains unclear. This study investigated cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between plasma DHEAS and cognitive function in a large nationally-representative cohort of men and women aged 50 and older.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate (DHEAS) in Alzheimer’s disease
Neurosteroids Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulphate (DHEAS) are involved in many important brain functions, including neuronal plasticity and survival, cognition and behavior, demonstrating preventive and therapeutic potential in different neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease.
Supplementation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in pre- and postmenopausal women – position statement of expert panel of Polish Menopause and Andropause Society
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentration decreases with age, therefore, DHEA has been considered a hormone that reduces the symptoms associated with aging, so the usefulness of DHEA in premenopausal and postmenopausal women, and the options of hormone therapy have received a large amount of attention.
Is the DHEAS/cortisol ratio a potential filter for non-operable constipated cases?
Constipation is a significant manifestation of a number of psychological disorders. Published papers recommend using self-assessment questionnaires for discriminating psychological from non-psychological constipated patients before operating on them but reports from major surveys revealed that general practitioners failed to diagnose 70% of depressed patients using self-assessment questionnaires.
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate linked to physiologic response against hot spring immersion
The steroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) is associated with longevity and adaptation against external stress in humans.
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and cognitive function in the elderly: the InCHIANTI study
DHEA and its sulfate derivative (DHEAS) decline with age. The decline in DHEAS levels has been associated with many physiological impairments in older persons including cognitive dysfunction.
Effects of DHEA administration on episodic memory, cortisol and mood in healthy young men: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to enhance cognition in rodents, although there are inconsistent findings in humans.
Cortisol and DHEA-S are associated with startle potentiation during aversive conditioning in humans
Fear conditioning reliably increases the startle reflex and stress hormones, yet very little is known about the effect of stress hormones on fear-potentiated startle. Cortisol and the sulfate ester of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA-S) are involved in stress and anxiety.