Chronic stress and Alzheimer's disease

Biotechnol Appl Biochem. 2022 Aug;69(4):1451-1458. doi: 10.1002/bab.2216. Epub 2021 Jul 5.

Abstract

Stress is a key factor in the development and progress of diseases. In neurodegenerative conditions, stress management can play an important role in maintaining the quality of life and the capacity to improve. Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, cause the motor and cognitive malfunctions that are spontaneously stressful and also can disturb the neural circuits that promote stress responses. The interruption of those circuits leads to aggressive and inappropriate behavior. In addition, stress contributes to illness and may exacerbate symptoms. In this review, we present stress-activated neural pathways involved in Alzheimer's disease from a clinical and experimental point of view, as well as supportive drugs and therapies.

Keywords: Alzheimer; neural pathways; neurodegenerative disease; stress.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life