Endocrine disorders across the lifespan
Endocrine disorders are a complex set of conditions resulting in abnormal hormonal release and regulation that can negatively impact growth and development, metabolism, and sexual functioning/reproduction. These disorders can arise at almost any point throughout the lifespan, from the prenatal period to old age. The effect of these conditions on the central nervous system may also vary from profound developmental disorders to subtle and possibly reversible cognitive impairments. In many cases, the mechanisms for cognitive and neurobehavioral effects of endocrine disorders are poorly understood.
Overview of the endocrine system
Table 14.1 presents the major anatomical structures of the endocrine system, their general function, and associated hormones. These structures regulate and release hormones in the body. The system is responsible for growth and development, reproduction, metabolism (energy production and storage), homeostasis, and responding to internal and external environmental changes. There are strong interactions between the endocrine, nervous, and immune systems. The pituitary gland and the hypothalamus are particularly important because they are involved in a feedback regulation of hormone production across the thyroid, adrenal, and gonadal axes. In general, a neural signal of imbalance in one of these endocrine systems leads to secretion of releasing factor from the hypothalamus, which triggers the pituitary gland to release a tropic hormone. The tropic hormone stimulates production and release of hormones from the specified endocrine gland. As a result, levels of circulating hormones normalize.