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Neurosteroid Cascade

Meaning

The Neurosteroid Cascade describes the sequential enzymatic conversions and regulatory pathways within the central and peripheral nervous systems that govern the synthesis, metabolism, and rapid action of neurosteroids, which are steroid molecules synthesized de novo in the brain and glia. These locally produced steroids, such as allopregnanolone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), act rapidly to modulate neuronal excitability and synaptic function, distinct from the slower genomic effects of classic steroid hormones. Understanding this cascade is vital for clinically addressing mood stability, cognition, and stress resilience.