Estrogen therapy and Alzheimer's dementia.
Previous studies in postmenopausal women have reported that estrogen treatment (ET) modulates the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). It has recently been hypothesized that there may be a "critical period" around the time of menopause during which the prescription of ET may reduce the risk of developing AD in later life. This effect may be most significant in women under 49 years old. Furthermore, prescription of ET after this point may have a neutral or negative effect, particularly when initiated in women over 60-65 years old. In this paper, we review recent studies that use in vivo techniques to analyze the neurobiological mechanisms that might underpin estrogen's effects on the brain postmenopause. Consistent with the "critical period" hypothesis, these studies suggest that the positive effects of estrogen are most robust in young women and in older women who had initiated ET around the time of menopause.
Craig
Michael C
MC
Centre for Female Health and Neurodevelopment, Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom. michael.c.craig@kcl.ac.uk
Murphy
D G M
DG
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D011859:Radiography; D012306:Risk