Cerebrospinal Fluid Cortisol and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology, and Cognitive Decline

Abstract

Increased cortisol in the CNS is associated with tau pathology and neurodegeneration, and with decreased insula and amygdala volume. Both CSF cortisol and DHEAS levels predict faster clinical disease progression. These results have implications for the identification of patients at risk of rapid decline as well as for the development of interventions targeting both neurodegeneration and clinical manifestations of AD.