What is the Origin of Cortisol Feedback Impairment?

The concept stems directly from classical endocrinology, specifically the elucidation of the HPA axis and its role in stress physiology, which was firmly established in the mid-20th century. Clinical disorders such as Cushing's syndrome and Addison's disease provided the initial understanding of feedback extremes. The term "impairment" is frequently used in the context of chronic stress research and functional endocrinology to describe subtle, non-pathological dysregulation.

What is the Mechanism of Cortisol Feedback Impairment?

Impairment typically involves a change in the sensitivity or density of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) within the hypothalamus and pituitary. Reduced GR sensitivity, often seen in chronic stress states, means higher circulating cortisol is required to turn off the HPA axis, leading to prolonged hypercortisolemia. Conversely, some forms of impairment can lead to inadequate cortisol production under stress. This mechanism compromises the body's ability to appropriately initiate and terminate the vital stress response.

Cortisol Feedback Impairment ∞ Area

Cortisol Feedback Impairment

Meaning

This clinical condition describes a dysfunction in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis where the normal negative feedback loop, regulated by cortisol, becomes blunted or exaggerated. In a healthy state, rising cortisol levels signal the hypothalamus and pituitary to decrease the release of CRH and ACTH, respectively. Impairment disrupts this precise regulation, leading to chronic dysregulation of the body’s essential stress response.