Is estrogen an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease?
Many recent studies have found that estrogen hormone replacement therapy does not have much effect on the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Estrogen, a hormone that is produced by the ovaries during a woman’s reproductive years, affects brain regions relevant to memory, such as the hippocampus. A large body of data gathered over the past 25 years in animal studies supports the notion that estrogen has some positive effects on memory function. In population-based observational studies (called epidemiologic studies), estrogen use has been associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s and with enhanced cognitive function. It also has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and enhances the growth of nerve fibers from particular neurons important for memory function. These data have created intense scientific interest in the relationship between estrogen, memory, and cognitive function in humans. In recent years, the federal government’s lead agency for research on aging, the Natio
