High Cortisol and the Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review of the Literature

Cortisol effects on the brain are exerted through two distinct receptors, inducing complex and even opposite effects on the cerebral structures implicated in the various cognitive functions. High cortisol may also have deleterious effects on the brain structures and contribute to neurodegeneration, in particular Alzheimer’s disease (AD), via different mechanisms.

To examine the interrelationships between cortisol, cognitive impairment and AD.