Steroids Can Change The Shape Of Your Brain Study Finds

Brain scans of nearly 25,000 people revealed that patients taking glucocorticoids had less white matter – the tissue that connects areas of the brain. Dutch academics said their “remarkable” findings may explain the drug’s link to neurological problems. All patients with asthma, arthritis and eczema are usually prescribed steroids. But known side effects include anxiety, mood swings and depression. Dutch researchers, who studied the brains of nearly 25,000 people, found that those taking glucocorticoids had differences in the white and gray matter of their brains. Those who took the drugs – as tablets, injections or inhalation – had changes in parts of the brain involved in cognitive and emotional processing

WHAT ARE GLUCOCORTICOIDS?

Glucocorticoids are a class of steroids taken by one per cent of people in the UK and US. Common types of the drug include the asthma medication beclomethasone, the arthritis medication betamethasone, and the eczema treatments betamethasone and cortisone. Medicines are classified as inhaled or systemic, the latter including those taken in tablets or injections. They are effective in reducing inflammation and suppressing the immune system. But dozens of studies have linked glucocorticoids to serious side effects, including high blood pressure, diabetes and weakened bones. Previous research has also suggested that the drugs cause structural changes and shrink certain areas of the brain. But these involved only a small number of people. Although never proven, the steroids themselves are widely believed to be behind the crippling symptoms. The new study, published in BMJ Open, does not definitively prove that the drugs are to blame. However, evidence from Leiden University experts provides a possible mechanism that could explain the side effects. Professor Onno Meijer and his colleagues said it was “likely” that glucocorticoids cause changes in the brain. More research is needed to confirm the results, as the exact consequences of the changes remain a mystery. However, they argued that the findings may, in part, “underlie the neuropsychiatric side effects seen in patients using glucocorticoids.” One in 200 people in wealthy countries take glucocorticoids, rising to one in 100 in the UK and US. Common types include beclomethasone (asthma) and betamethasone (arthritis). Medicines are classified as inhaled or systemic, with the latter including tablets or injections. They work by suppressing the immune system, which becomes overactive and causes conditions such as arthritis, asthma and eczema. The researchers looked at data on 24,885 people included in the UK Biobank. The database contains health data on half a million Britons, who underwent dozens of scans and were asked about their lifestyles. About 222 volunteers used systemic steroids, 557 received inhaled steroids, and 24,106 did not receive steroids. None had been diagnosed with neurological conditions or were taking mood-altering medications such as antidepressants. Professor Meijer and the team compared the participants’ brain MRIs and mood questionnaires. Steroid users had “less intact” white matter, compared to participants not taking the drugs. Taking glucocorticoids long-term and taking the drugs in tablet or injection form, rather than inhaled versions, was associated with greater white matter loss. Systemic users had a longer tail limit, compared to those who did not use the drug. Meanwhile, those taking inhaled steroids had smaller amygdala. Both the caudate and the amygdala are involved in cognitive and emotional processing. Those who used the systemic steroid also performed worse on a test that measured their processing speed than non-users. And they had higher rates of depression, anxiety and fatigue than non-users. Inhaled steroid users only reported more fatigue than non-users. The team noted that participants were only asked a few questions about their mood, and the lower levels of happiness may have been due to their medical condition rather than the drugs prescribed to treat it.

title: “Steroids Can Change The Shape Of Your Brain Study Finds Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-23” author: “Steven Krag”

Brain scans of nearly 25,000 people revealed that patients taking glucocorticoids had less white matter – the tissue that connects areas of the brain. Dutch academics said their “remarkable” findings may explain the drug’s link to neurological problems. All patients with asthma, arthritis and eczema are usually prescribed steroids. But known side effects include anxiety, mood swings and depression. Dutch researchers, who studied the brains of nearly 25,000 people, found that those taking glucocorticoids had differences in the white and gray matter of their brains. Those who took the drugs – as tablets, injections or inhalation – had changes in parts of the brain involved in cognitive and emotional processing

WHAT ARE GLUCOCORTICOIDS?

Glucocorticoids are a class of steroids taken by one per cent of people in the UK and US. Common types of the drug include the asthma medication beclomethasone, the arthritis medication betamethasone, and the eczema treatments betamethasone and cortisone. Medicines are classified as inhaled or systemic, the latter including those taken in tablets or injections. They are effective in reducing inflammation and suppressing the immune system. But dozens of studies have linked glucocorticoids to serious side effects, including high blood pressure, diabetes and weakened bones. Previous research has also suggested that the drugs cause structural changes and shrink certain areas of the brain. But these involved only a small number of people. Although never proven, the steroids themselves are widely believed to be behind the crippling symptoms. The new study, published in BMJ Open, does not definitively prove that the drugs are to blame. However, evidence from Leiden University experts provides a possible mechanism that could explain the side effects. Professor Onno Meijer and his colleagues said it was “likely” that glucocorticoids cause changes in the brain. More research is needed to confirm the results, as the exact consequences of the changes remain a mystery. However, they argued that the findings may, in part, “underlie the neuropsychiatric side effects seen in patients using glucocorticoids.” One in 200 people in wealthy countries take glucocorticoids, rising to one in 100 in the UK and US. Common types include beclomethasone (asthma) and betamethasone (arthritis). Medicines are classified as inhaled or systemic, with the latter including tablets or injections. They work by suppressing the immune system, which becomes overactive and causes conditions such as arthritis, asthma and eczema. The researchers looked at data on 24,885 people included in the UK Biobank. The database contains health data on half a million Britons, who underwent dozens of scans and were asked about their lifestyles. About 222 volunteers used systemic steroids, 557 received inhaled steroids, and 24,106 did not receive steroids. None had been diagnosed with neurological conditions or were taking mood-altering medications such as antidepressants. Professor Meijer and the team compared the participants’ brain MRIs and mood questionnaires. Steroid users had “less intact” white matter, compared to participants not taking the drugs. Taking glucocorticoids long-term and taking the drugs in tablet or injection form, rather than inhaled versions, was associated with greater white matter loss. Systemic users had a longer tail limit, compared to those who did not use the drug. Meanwhile, those taking inhaled steroids had smaller amygdala. Both the caudate and the amygdala are involved in cognitive and emotional processing. Those who used the systemic steroid also performed worse on a test that measured their processing speed than non-users. And they had higher rates of depression, anxiety and fatigue than non-users. Inhaled steroid users only reported more fatigue than non-users. The team noted that participants were only asked a few questions about their mood, and the lower levels of happiness may have been due to their medical condition rather than the drugs prescribed to treat it.

title: “Steroids Can Change The Shape Of Your Brain Study Finds Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-15” author: “Stephen Hancock”

Brain scans of nearly 25,000 people revealed that patients taking glucocorticoids had less white matter – the tissue that connects areas of the brain. Dutch academics said their “remarkable” findings may explain the drug’s link to neurological problems. All patients with asthma, arthritis and eczema are usually prescribed steroids. But known side effects include anxiety, mood swings and depression. Dutch researchers, who studied the brains of nearly 25,000 people, found that those taking glucocorticoids had differences in the white and gray matter of their brains. Those who took the drugs – as tablets, injections or inhalation – had changes in parts of the brain involved in cognitive and emotional processing

WHAT ARE GLUCOCORTICOIDS?

Glucocorticoids are a class of steroids taken by one per cent of people in the UK and US. Common types of the drug include the asthma medication beclomethasone, the arthritis medication betamethasone, and the eczema treatments betamethasone and cortisone. Medicines are classified as inhaled or systemic, the latter including those taken in tablets or injections. They are effective in reducing inflammation and suppressing the immune system. But dozens of studies have linked glucocorticoids to serious side effects, including high blood pressure, diabetes and weakened bones. Previous research has also suggested that the drugs cause structural changes and shrink certain areas of the brain. But these involved only a small number of people. Although never proven, the steroids themselves are widely believed to be behind the crippling symptoms. The new study, published in BMJ Open, does not definitively prove that the drugs are to blame. However, evidence from Leiden University experts provides a possible mechanism that could explain the side effects. Professor Onno Meijer and his colleagues said it was “likely” that glucocorticoids cause changes in the brain. More research is needed to confirm the results, as the exact consequences of the changes remain a mystery. However, they argued that the findings may, in part, “underlie the neuropsychiatric side effects seen in patients using glucocorticoids.” One in 200 people in wealthy countries take glucocorticoids, rising to one in 100 in the UK and US. Common types include beclomethasone (asthma) and betamethasone (arthritis). Medicines are classified as inhaled or systemic, with the latter including tablets or injections. They work by suppressing the immune system, which becomes overactive and causes conditions such as arthritis, asthma and eczema. The researchers looked at data on 24,885 people included in the UK Biobank. The database contains health data on half a million Britons, who underwent dozens of scans and were asked about their lifestyles. About 222 volunteers used systemic steroids, 557 received inhaled steroids, and 24,106 did not receive steroids. None had been diagnosed with neurological conditions or were taking mood-altering medications such as antidepressants. Professor Meijer and the team compared the participants’ brain MRIs and mood questionnaires. Steroid users had “less intact” white matter, compared to participants not taking the drugs. Taking glucocorticoids long-term and taking the drugs in tablet or injection form, rather than inhaled versions, was associated with greater white matter loss. Systemic users had a longer tail limit, compared to those who did not use the drug. Meanwhile, those taking inhaled steroids had smaller amygdala. Both the caudate and the amygdala are involved in cognitive and emotional processing. Those who used the systemic steroid also performed worse on a test that measured their processing speed than non-users. And they had higher rates of depression, anxiety and fatigue than non-users. Inhaled steroid users only reported more fatigue than non-users. The team noted that participants were only asked a few questions about their mood, and the lower levels of happiness may have been due to their medical condition rather than the drugs prescribed to treat it.

title: “Steroids Can Change The Shape Of Your Brain Study Finds Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-28” author: “Eva Wright”

Brain scans of nearly 25,000 people revealed that patients taking glucocorticoids had less white matter – the tissue that connects areas of the brain. Dutch academics said their “remarkable” findings may explain the drug’s link to neurological problems. All patients with asthma, arthritis and eczema are usually prescribed steroids. But known side effects include anxiety, mood swings and depression. Dutch researchers, who studied the brains of nearly 25,000 people, found that those taking glucocorticoids had differences in the white and gray matter of their brains. Those who took the drugs – as tablets, injections or inhalation – had changes in parts of the brain involved in cognitive and emotional processing

WHAT ARE GLUCOCORTICOIDS?

Glucocorticoids are a class of steroids taken by one per cent of people in the UK and US. Common types of the drug include the asthma medication beclomethasone, the arthritis medication betamethasone, and the eczema treatments betamethasone and cortisone. Medicines are classified as inhaled or systemic, the latter including those taken in tablets or injections. They are effective in reducing inflammation and suppressing the immune system. But dozens of studies have linked glucocorticoids to serious side effects, including high blood pressure, diabetes and weakened bones. Previous research has also suggested that the drugs cause structural changes and shrink certain areas of the brain. But these involved only a small number of people. Although never proven, the steroids themselves are widely believed to be behind the crippling symptoms. The new study, published in BMJ Open, does not definitively prove that the drugs are to blame. However, evidence from Leiden University experts provides a possible mechanism that could explain the side effects. Professor Onno Meijer and his colleagues said it was “likely” that glucocorticoids cause changes in the brain. More research is needed to confirm the results, as the exact consequences of the changes remain a mystery. However, they argued that the findings may, in part, “underlie the neuropsychiatric side effects seen in patients using glucocorticoids.” One in 200 people in wealthy countries take glucocorticoids, rising to one in 100 in the UK and US. Common types include beclomethasone (asthma) and betamethasone (arthritis). Medicines are classified as inhaled or systemic, with the latter including tablets or injections. They work by suppressing the immune system, which becomes overactive and causes conditions such as arthritis, asthma and eczema. The researchers looked at data on 24,885 people included in the UK Biobank. The database contains health data on half a million Britons, who underwent dozens of scans and were asked about their lifestyles. About 222 volunteers used systemic steroids, 557 received inhaled steroids, and 24,106 did not receive steroids. None had been diagnosed with neurological conditions or were taking mood-altering medications such as antidepressants. Professor Meijer and the team compared the participants’ brain MRIs and mood questionnaires. Steroid users had “less intact” white matter, compared to participants not taking the drugs. Taking glucocorticoids long-term and taking the drugs in tablet or injection form, rather than inhaled versions, was associated with greater white matter loss. Systemic users had a longer tail limit, compared to those who did not use the drug. Meanwhile, those taking inhaled steroids had smaller amygdala. Both the caudate and the amygdala are involved in cognitive and emotional processing. Those who used the systemic steroid also performed worse on a test that measured their processing speed than non-users. And they had higher rates of depression, anxiety and fatigue than non-users. Inhaled steroid users only reported more fatigue than non-users. The team noted that participants were only asked a few questions about their mood, and the lower levels of happiness may have been due to their medical condition rather than the drugs prescribed to treat it.