The Potential of Gonadal Hormone Signalling Pathways as Therapeutics for Dementia

Dementia is an ever-expanding problem facing an ageing society. Currently, there is a sharp paucity of treatment strategies. It has long been known that sex hormones, namely 17β-estradiol and testosterone, possess neuroprotective- and cognitive-enhancing qualities. However, certain lacunae in the kn...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of molecular neuroscience 2016-11, Vol.60 (3), p.336-348
Main Authors: Du, X., Hill, R. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - metabolism
Cell Biology
Cognition - drug effects
Dementia - drug therapy
Dementia - metabolism
Female
Gonadal Hormones - metabolism
Gonadal Hormones - pharmacology
Gonadal Hormones - therapeutic use
Humans
Male
Neurochemistry
Neurology
Neurosciences
Proteomics
Signal Transduction
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Summary:Dementia is an ever-expanding problem facing an ageing society. Currently, there is a sharp paucity of treatment strategies. It has long been known that sex hormones, namely 17β-estradiol and testosterone, possess neuroprotective- and cognitive-enhancing qualities. However, certain lacunae in the knowledge underlying their molecular mechanisms have delayed their use as treatment strategies in dementia. With recent advancements in pharmacology and molecular biology, especially in the development of safer selective oestrogen receptor modulators and the recent discovery of the small-molecule brain-derived neurotrophic factor receptor agonist, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone, the exploitation of these signalling pathways for clinical use has become possible. This review aims to adumbrate the evidence and hurdles underscoring the use of sex hormones in the treatment of dementia as well as discussing some direction that is required to advance the translation of evidence into practise.
ISSN:0895-8696
1559-1166
DOI:10.1007/s12031-016-0813-9