Women, Estrogen and Alzheimer's

Estrogen is a hormone found in the female reproductive system. It has been found to have many beneficial effects on brain cells. The majority of estrogen is produced by the ovaries. Men also produce it by changing testosterone into estrogen. Production of this hormone in men may account for the fact that AD is much less common in men than women. Two to three times as many women as men develop AD. The onset of symptoms is delayed up to ten years in men also. Alzheimer's affects 70% of women over the age of 80.

The most commonly prescribed estrogen replacement drug is Premarin. When a woman reaches menopause, estrogen production is greatly reduced, placing a woman at risk for several serious health problems. An increased risk of developing Alzheimer's is one of those risks.

In June of this year, results were published from the largest study on estrogen and Alzheimer's done so far. The Johns Hopkins Medical Centers in conjunction with the National Institute of Aging completed a 16-year study of estrogen and AD.

The study followed 472 women. 45% of these women were taking estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). Of the 45% taking ERT either orally or by a skin patch, nine developed Alzheimer's. Of those not taking ERT, 25 developed AD. This suggests that women taking estrogen had a 54% decrease in their risk of getting AD.

Estrogen stimulates the growth of nerve cells in the brain that are associated with learning and memory. In other studies done, women placed on an estrogen patch showed an increased ability to remember things. The greater the dose given, the greater the improvement.

There is also research that reveals that women who smoke or have smoked in the past and take estrogen replacement, are even less likely to develop Alzheimer's. The effects of the estrogen seem to be magnified in smokers. This may be related to chemicals in the cigarette smoke that are similar to chemicals lacking in the brains of those with AD.

As with any drug, estrogen is not without it's risks. Estrogen has been shown to increase the risk of developing both uterine and breast cancer.

Further studies on estrogen and its connection with AD are continuing. Please consult your physician about estrogen replacement therapy.