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Published on: October 28, 2015
Estrogen and cognition, with a focus on Alzheimer's disease
Joann V Pinkerton1, Victor W Henderson
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Virginia Health System, Midlife Health Center, 2955 Ivy Road Suite 104, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA. jvp9u@virginia.edu
Abstract:
Cognitive aging is associated with decreases in memory, attention, and visual/motor performance and skills. Dementia consists of loss of memory and other cognitive abilities, associated with social or occupational impairment. Potential neuroprotective effects of estrogen include lowering beta-amyloid, enhancing cholinergic function, promoting synaptic plasticity and nerve process growth, reducing oxidative stress, and enhancing brain glucose transport. Observational and longitudinal studies suggest that hormone therapy may attenuate age-associated cognitive impairment or decrease Alzheimer's disease but this has not been confirmed by randomized clinical trials. A critical window of time may exist around the menopause when hormone therapy may delay or decrease cognitive changes; however, hormone therapy initiated in the late postmenopause does not improve global cognition and may increase dementia risk.
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