obesity, and metabolic syndrome due to increasing local corticosterone. Involvement in the brain HSD-11βs are expressed in the central nervous system of aged individuals. It is essential in Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis function. HSD-11βs also partakes involvement in the decline of conscious intellectual activity due to aging. The enzyme also contributes to central effects are also during the development stages. For instance, the HSD-11βs Type 2shows frequently in fetal tissues such as a newborn's brain and placenta. If there is an absence or decline in HSD-11βs Type 2 in the fetus tissues, there are negative developmental consequences such as anxiety. HSD-11βs are partly responsible for intracellular metabolism that determine the operation of glucocorticoids within cells. Glucocorticoids impact the brain development and ultimately the function of the central nervous system. So much so, that if there is a surplus or scant amounts of it, the consequences are deformities throughout one's entire life. HSD-11β Type 1 is responsible for activating glucocorticoids while HSD-11β Type 2 is responsible for deactivating them. The consequences for HSD-11β Type 1 activating glucocorticoids is that there is a decline in cognition especially as one ages. Contrarily, the effects of HSD-11β Type 2 occur during development. Some consequences of a high expression HSD-11β Type 2 are anxiety and cardiometabolic disorders, both of which are part of the early age glucocorticoid programming. Involvement in Preterm Births Infants born underweight are susceptible to having metabolic disease throughout their lives. The presence of glucocorticoids has contributed to the relatively low infant birth weight. A decrease in HSD-11β Type 2 in the placenta can lead to infant restriction in growth, specifically during the first 12 months of an infant's life. The reason for this is because the HSD-11β Type 2 is meant to be expressed in high quantities in the placenta, This is so because the enzymes secure the fetus from exposure to increased levels of glucocorticoids, which are linked to underweight newborns. See also Steroidogenic enzyme 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 Cortisone reductase deficiency References External links EC 1.1.1 NADPH-dependent enzymes Enzymes of known structure