Title:Cushing's Syndrome and Steroid Dementia
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
Author(s): Giampaolo Bernini and Domenico Tricò
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Cushing`s syndrome, dementia, glucocorticoid receptor antagonists, hypercortisolism, neuropsychiatric disorders,
steroid dementia.
Abstract: Cushing’s Syndrome (CS) is associated with a specific spectrum of dementia-like symptoms,
including psychiatric disorders, such as major depression, anxiety and mania, and neurocognitive
alterations, like impairment of memory and concentration. This pattern of clinical complications,
which significantly impair the health-related quality of life of CS patients, is sometimes referred to as
“steroid dementia syndrome” (SDS). The SDS is the result of anatomical and functional anomalies in
brain areas involved in the processing of emotion and cognition, which are only partially restored after the biochemical
remission of the disease. Therefore, periodical neuropsychiatric evaluations are recommended in all CS patients, and a
long-term follow-up is required after normalization of hypercortisolism. Recent evidences demonstrate that three classes
of drugs (glucocorticoid receptor antagonists, steroidogenesis inhibitors, and pituitary tumor-targeted drugs), which are
used for medical treatment of CS, can rapidly relief neuropsychiatric symptoms of SDS. Furthermore, several psychoactive
medications have demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of symptoms induced by the acute or chronic glucocosteroid
administration. In this paper, a review of the current and future patents for the treatment and prevention of CS and
SDS will be presented.
