title: Endogenous oestrogens are related to cognition in healthy elderly women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether levels of endogenous hormones, in particular circulating oestrogens and SHBG, are associated with cognition in healthy postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred and two healthy postmenopausal women aged 50-74 years between 8 and 30 years after menopause, none taking oestrogen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum concentration of oestradiol, oestrone, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) determined by immunoassay. Cognition assessed using the mini-mental state examination questionnaire (MMSE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this group, 149 individuals had a MMSE score < 27, while only 89 individuals had a MMSE score < 26, indicating a relatively healthy population with regard to cognitive ability. Cognition decreased with age, time since menopause and blood pressure, and was better with higher age at menopause. Serum oestrogens and SHBG levels were not related to age, age at menopause, or time since menopause, and oestrogen levels were positively associated with blood pressure. After adjustment for mean arterial pressure and SHBG, the frequency of mild cognitive impairment decreased significantly with higher oestradiol and oestrone serum levels [ORs Q5 vs. Q1: 0.41 (95% CI 0.20-0.84) and 0.51 (95% CI 0.20-0.99) for oestradiol and oestrone, respectively].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postmenopausal women with higher remaining circulating oestradiol levels appear less likely to suffer from cognitive impairment. This effect is independent of age at menopause, time since menopause and BMI. These findings support the hypothesis that endogenous oestrogens may protect against cognitive decline with ageing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Corinne E I
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Lebrun
authors.forename: Yvonne T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: van der Schouw
authors.forename: Frank H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: Huibert A P
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Pols
authors.forename: Diederick E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Grobbee
authors.forename: Steven W J
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lamberts
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000503:physiopathology; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004522:Educational Status; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood*; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D004970:Estrone; D004958:Estradiol