Shorter than Average Reproductive Periods for Women Confers a Greater Risk for Developing Dementia8/1/2019 By: Ashley Nee, ‘22 Edited by Jess Sevetson ![]() Alzheimer’s disease has a complicated history with estrogen. Two thirds of Alzheimer’s patients are women, and scientists have long turned to estrogen, a primary female sex hormone, in the hopes that further research may explain why the Alzheimer’s burden is greater in women than in men. Studies regarding hormone replacement therapy as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease report conflicting evidence, making the subject controversial among some scientists. However, a recent study supports the concept of using hormone replacement therapy to increase women’s exposure to estrogen as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease/dementia. [1] The study used a combination of questionnaires and electronic health records to obtain data from a racially diverse population of over 6,000 women. [2] Upon data analysis, it was found that women who began their period at an older age and/or began menopause at a younger age had nearly a 20 percent greater risk of developing dementia than other women. [2] Specifically, beginning menstruation between ages 16 to 17 resulted in a 23 percent greater risk for dementia development than women who began menstruating at age 13 or younger. [2] Likewise, women who began menopause between ages 41 to 46 had a 29 percent greater risk for dementia development than women beginning menopause between ages 51 and 55. [2] This supports the idea that a shorter reproductive window for women is associated with a greater risk for Alzheimer’s.
Further, this study is supportive of the idea that longer exposure to estrogen translates to a longer reproductive window and, in turn, neuroprotection. The robust racial diversity of the study population also suggests that such an effect applies for all women. In spite of the controversy surrounding how beneficial estrogen and hormone replacement therapy are in safeguarding against dementia development, this most recent study offers much to the field and calls for further investigation. References [1] Shugart J. Alzforum [Internet]. 2019 [Cited 31 March 2019]. Available from: https://www.alzforum.org/news/research-news/menarche-menopause-shorter-span-linked-higher-risk-dementia [2] Gilsanz P, Lee C, Corrada MM, Kawas CH, Quesenberry CP, Whitmer RA. Reproductive period and risk of dementia in a diverse cohort of health care members. Neurology [Internet]. 27 March 2019 [Cited 31 March 2019].
1 Comment
11/6/2019 07:50:34 am
Alzheimer's disease is one of the most deadly diseases and I appreciate the information provided in this blog which helps to point out the relationship existed between hormonal imbalance and Alzheimer's disease. The post-menopause period is very critical for the women as secretion of certain types of hormones like estrogen and progesterone reduces drastically. So, women suffering from such circumstances should take suggestions from an experienced professional to counter the effects.
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