Cognitive dysfunction, hippocampal atrophy and glucocorticoid feedback in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: The hippocampal formation is damaged early in Alzheimer's disease (AD). An association between temporal lobe volume and cognitive function has been shown in several studies. Increased limbic-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (LHPA) axis function has been suggested to be related to hippocampal atrophy and cognitive impairment.