Aldosterone in the brain and cognition: knowns and unknowns

Mineralocorticoid receptors are expressed in several structures of the central nervous system, and aldosterone levels can be measured in the brain, although in smaller amounts than in plasma. Nevertheless, these amounts appear to be sufficient to elicit substantial clinical effects. Primary aldoster...

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Main Authors: Anna Nieckarz, Beata Graff, Michel Burnier, Anna B. Marcinkowska, Krzysztof Narkiewicz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2024.1456211/full
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author Anna Nieckarz
Beata Graff
Michel Burnier
Michel Burnier
Anna B. Marcinkowska
Krzysztof Narkiewicz
author_facet Anna Nieckarz
Beata Graff
Michel Burnier
Michel Burnier
Anna B. Marcinkowska
Krzysztof Narkiewicz
author_sort Anna Nieckarz
collection DOAJ
description Mineralocorticoid receptors are expressed in several structures of the central nervous system, and aldosterone levels can be measured in the brain, although in smaller amounts than in plasma. Nevertheless, these amounts appear to be sufficient to elicit substantial clinical effects. Primary aldosteronism, characterized by high levels of plasma aldosterone, is one of the most common causes of secondary hypertension. In this context, high aldosterone levels may have both indirect and direct effects on the brain with a negative impact on several cerebral functions. Thus, chronic aldosterone excess has been associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression – two clinical entities themselves associated with cognitive deficits. Today, there is an increasing number of reports on the influence of aldosterone on the brain, but there is also a significant amount of uncertainty, such as the role of high aldosterone levels on cognitive functions and decline independently of blood pressure. In this mini review, we discuss the known and unknowns of the impact of aldosterone on the brain putting emphasis on cognitive functions.
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spelling doaj-art-9faeb3a66fe4432ebd9c4f67943a5b672025-08-20T01:47:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922024-11-011510.3389/fendo.2024.14562111456211Aldosterone in the brain and cognition: knowns and unknownsAnna Nieckarz0Beata Graff1Michel Burnier2Michel Burnier3Anna B. Marcinkowska4Krzysztof Narkiewicz5Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandDepartment of Hypertension and Diabetology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandDepartment of Hypertension and Diabetology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandFaculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandApplied Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Department of Neurophysiology, Neuropsychology and Neuroinformatics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandDepartment of Hypertension and Diabetology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, PolandMineralocorticoid receptors are expressed in several structures of the central nervous system, and aldosterone levels can be measured in the brain, although in smaller amounts than in plasma. Nevertheless, these amounts appear to be sufficient to elicit substantial clinical effects. Primary aldosteronism, characterized by high levels of plasma aldosterone, is one of the most common causes of secondary hypertension. In this context, high aldosterone levels may have both indirect and direct effects on the brain with a negative impact on several cerebral functions. Thus, chronic aldosterone excess has been associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression – two clinical entities themselves associated with cognitive deficits. Today, there is an increasing number of reports on the influence of aldosterone on the brain, but there is also a significant amount of uncertainty, such as the role of high aldosterone levels on cognitive functions and decline independently of blood pressure. In this mini review, we discuss the known and unknowns of the impact of aldosterone on the brain putting emphasis on cognitive functions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2024.1456211/fullaldosteronecentral nervous systemcognitionhypertensionprimary
spellingShingle Anna Nieckarz
Beata Graff
Michel Burnier
Michel Burnier
Anna B. Marcinkowska
Krzysztof Narkiewicz
Aldosterone in the brain and cognition: knowns and unknowns
Frontiers in Endocrinology
aldosterone
central nervous system
cognition
hypertension
primary
title Aldosterone in the brain and cognition: knowns and unknowns
title_full Aldosterone in the brain and cognition: knowns and unknowns
title_fullStr Aldosterone in the brain and cognition: knowns and unknowns
title_full_unstemmed Aldosterone in the brain and cognition: knowns and unknowns
title_short Aldosterone in the brain and cognition: knowns and unknowns
title_sort aldosterone in the brain and cognition knowns and unknowns
topic aldosterone
central nervous system
cognition
hypertension
primary
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2024.1456211/full
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