GLUCOCORTICOIDS AND COGNITION

Following a review of the literature on the cognitive manifestations o f endogenous hypercortisolemia, it is interesting to consider the cogn itive deficits resulting from the exogenous administration of syntheti c glucocorticoids to healthy human subjects. In both cases, attentiona l and mnesic deficits are reported. In some cases, these deficits can worsen and give rise to a dementia or steroid psychosis. Similar cogni tive deficits have been observed in a population of aged human subject s presenting an endogenous hypersecretion of cortisol. the results of this study, which combines endocrine and neuropsychological measures, suggest that both neuroendocrine and cognitive deficits may originate from hippocampal dysfunction. Ongoing studies of these aged individual s showing endogenous hypercortisolemia should show if this endocrine s tate marks the beginning of the senile process.