BACKGROUND: Neurodegenerative diseases cause progressive irreversible neuronal loss that has broad downstream effects. The neuroendocrine system regulates homeostasis of circuits that control critical functions such as the stress response, metabolism, reproduction, fluid balance, and glucose control. These systems are frequently disrupted in neurodegenerative disorders yet often overlooked in clinical practice.
OBJECTIVE: This review aims to gather the available data regarding these disturbances in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington's disease and also to demonstrate the volume of literature in these individual arenas.
METHODS: Using the scoping review framework, a literature search was performed in PubMed to identify relevant articles published within the past 30 years (January 1988 to November 2018). The search criteria produced a total of 2022 articles, 328 of which were identified as relevant to this review.
RESULTS: Several major themes emerged from this review. These neuroendocrine disturbances may be a precursor to the illness, a part of the primary pathophysiology, or a direct consequence of the disease or independent of it. They have the potential to further understanding of the disease, exacerbate the underlying pathology, or provide therapeutic benefit.
CONCLUSIONS: By synthesizing the data from a systems' perspective, we aim to broaden how clinicians think about these illnesses and provide care.
