The evolution of ovarian oocyte decline with aging and possible relationships to Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease.
Evolutionary aspects of menopause are considered from several perspectives. First, the programmed exhaustion of ovarian oocytes appears to be a general trait of mammals that is not as widely found in other vertebrates. Second, studies on mice suggest that the maternal age effect that accelerates the incidence of Down syndrome is due not to age per se but to dwindling ovarian oocyte pools. Because Down syndrome inevitably leads to Alzheimer-type neuropathology, there is reason to consider hormonal intervention strategies to reduce the risk of Down syndrome. Third, estrogens may be a protective factor in Alzheimer disease, which is another link to menopause and another rationale for special hormonal interventions.
Finch
C E
CE
Neurogerontology Division, Andrus Gerontology Center, Los Angeles, California.
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction; D012106:Research
D004967:Estrogens