BACE1 and Alzheimer disease: Cortisol binds glucocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus and other areas. Chronic activation of the glucocorticoid receptors was found to damage hippocampal neurons by activation of NLRP1 (156). Levels of cortisol in patients with AD correlated with disease severity and progression (157). Cortisol administration to AD mice increased BACE1, Aβ deposition, and tau hyperphosphorylation (158).