Neuroactive steroids: new biomarkers of cognitive aging.

Full Abstract

Intensive studies in animals established that neuroactive steroids display neuronal actions and influence behavioral functions. We describe here investigations on the role of neuroactive steroids in learning and memory processes during aging and suggest their role as biomarkers of cognitive aging. Our work demonstrated the role of the steroid pregnenolone (PREG) sulfate as a factor underlying an individual's age-related cognitive decline in animals. As new perspectives of research we argue that knowing whether neuroactive steroids exist as endogenous neuromodulators and modulate physiologically behavioral functions is essential. To this end, a new approach using the sensitive, specific, and accurate quantitative determination of neuroactive steroids by mass spectrometry seems to have potential for examining the role of each steroid in discrete brain areas in learning and memory alterations, as observed during aging.

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Author information

Author/s: Vallée, Monique (M); Purdy, Robert H (RH); Mayo, Willy (W); Koob, George F (GF); Le Moal, Michel (M);

Affiliation: INSERM U588, Institut F. Magendie, 1 rue Camille Saint-Saëns, 33077 Bordeaux Cedex, France. vallee(-atsign-)bordeaux.inserm.fr

Grants: AA 06420 (Agency:NIAAA NIH HHS) ; AA 11111 (Agency:NIAAA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.; Review

Journal: The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology (J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Jun; vol 85 (issue 2-5) : pp 329-35

Dates: Created 2003/08/28; Completed 2003/10/29; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 12943719, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Aging - psychology
Animals
Biological Markers
Brain - physiology

Cognition - physiology
Humans
Receptors, Steroid - physiology
Steroids - physiology

Associated Chemicals: Biological Markers (0) ; Receptors, Steroid (0) ; Steroids (0)

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