Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease (AD), Parkinson disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington disease, are characterized by the loss of neurons as well as neuronal function in multiple regions of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Several studies in animal models have shown that androgens have neuroprotective effects in the brain and stimulate axonal regeneration. The presence of neuronal androgen receptors in the peripheral and central nervous system suggests that androgen therapy might be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.To illustrate, androgen therapy reduced inflammation, amyloid-β deposition, and cognitive impairment in patients with AD. As well, improvements in remyelination in MS have been reported; by comparison, only variable results are observed in androgen treatment of PD. In ALS, androgen administration stimulated motoneuron recovery from progressive damage and regenerated both axons and dendrites. Only a few clinical studies are available in human individuals despite the safety and low cost of androgen therapy. Clinical evaluations of the effects of androgen therapy on these devastating diseases using large populations of patients are strongly needed.

Bianchi, V., Rizzi, L., Bresciani, E., Omeljaniuk, R., Torsello, A. (2020). Androgen therapy in neurodegenerative diseases. JOURNAL OF THE ENDOCRINE SOCIETY, 4(11) [10.1210/jendso/bvaa120].

Androgen therapy in neurodegenerative diseases

Rizzi L.
Secondo
;
Bresciani E.;Torsello A.
Ultimo
2020

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease (AD), Parkinson disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington disease, are characterized by the loss of neurons as well as neuronal function in multiple regions of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Several studies in animal models have shown that androgens have neuroprotective effects in the brain and stimulate axonal regeneration. The presence of neuronal androgen receptors in the peripheral and central nervous system suggests that androgen therapy might be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.To illustrate, androgen therapy reduced inflammation, amyloid-β deposition, and cognitive impairment in patients with AD. As well, improvements in remyelination in MS have been reported; by comparison, only variable results are observed in androgen treatment of PD. In ALS, androgen administration stimulated motoneuron recovery from progressive damage and regenerated both axons and dendrites. Only a few clinical studies are available in human individuals despite the safety and low cost of androgen therapy. Clinical evaluations of the effects of androgen therapy on these devastating diseases using large populations of patients are strongly needed.
Articolo in rivista - Review Essay
Alzheimer’s disease; Androgens; Multiple sclerosis; Neuroregeneration; Parkinson’s disease; Remyelination; Testosterone;
English
21-ago-2020
2020
4
11
bvaa120
none
Bianchi, V., Rizzi, L., Bresciani, E., Omeljaniuk, R., Torsello, A. (2020). Androgen therapy in neurodegenerative diseases. JOURNAL OF THE ENDOCRINE SOCIETY, 4(11) [10.1210/jendso/bvaa120].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/301463
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