Two Hormone Receptors May Have a Role in Regulating Critical Brain Function: Study Finds - Video

In a comprehensive review published in the issue of Genomic Psychiatry, researchers have unveiled crucial insights into how two types of hormone receptors collaborate to maintain brain health and potentially prevent neurodegenerative diseases.

The study, led by Professor Jan-Åke Gustafsson and colleagues at the University of Houston and Karolinska Institutet, demonstrates that liver X receptors (LXRs) and thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) work together in a previously unrecognized manner to regulate critical brain functions and protect against neurodegeneration.

Key findings include:

• liver X receptors play a crucial role in regulating thyroid hormone function in the brain

• Both receptors are essential for normal brain development and maintenance

• Loss of liver X receptors function leads to age-related neurodegeneration in multiple brain regions

• The receptors work together to maintain cholesterol balance in the brain

The review highlights several promising therapeutic implications:

1. Alzheimer's Disease: liver X receptors activation could help reduce amyloid plaque formation and improve memory

2. Parkinson's Disease: liver X receptors signaling appears to protect dopamine-producing neurons

3. ALS: liver X receptors influence motor neuron survival and function

4. Multiple Sclerosis: The receptors play crucial roles in myelin repair and maintenance