Figure 3.
Chronic glucocorticoids (GCs) stress, which stimulates glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activation, causes downregulation of expression/function of BDNF. Because BDNF has pivotal roles in supporting neurogenesis and preventing neurodegeneration, it is possible that excess GCs functions as a negative factor in neurogenesis and a risk factor for the development/progression of neurodegenerative pathologies.