Cognitive impairment caused by hypothalamus-pituitary axis and endocrine system disorders

Abstract

The most common diseases causing cognitive impairment include Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and vascular dementia. There are also dementias that can be cured or ameliorated through the treatment of the underlying diseases. In the field of neurosurgery, representative underlying diseases are normal pressure hydrocephalus, chronic subdural hematoma, and brain tumors. Another treatable dementia somewhat unfamiliar to neurosurgeons is cognitive impairment caused by endocrine disorders. Such cognitive impairment caused by abnormalities in the hypothalamus-pituitary axis, thyroid gland, adrenal gland, and gonadal system can be improved by appropriate adjustment of the endocrine environment. Detailed examination of endocrine function is also essential in dementia treatment.