THE ROLE OF THE NEUROENDOCRINE SYSTEM IN THE FORMATION OF BIOLOGICAL AGE: SIGNIFICANCE OF ADRENAL CORTICAL FUNCTION

Abstract

Biological age is an integral indicator reflecting the functional state, adaptive capacity, and health status of the human organism more accurately than chronological age. It provides an objective assessment of aging processes and may serve as a predictor of life expectancy. Among the regulatory systems involved in aging, the neuroendocrine system—particularly the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis—plays a central role. Age-related changes in adrenal cortical function significantly influence metabolic regulation, stress responses, immune activity, and homeostasis. This article analyzes key neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying biological aging, with special emphasis on adrenal cortex activity as an objective marker of biological age at both individual and population levels.