Is it true that researchers are testing hormones as a treatment for Alzheimers disease?
Reports of lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease among postmenopausal women taking estrogen have stimulated investigation of the possible preventive effect of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) on the development of Alzheimers disease. In their initial study, researchers at the National Institute on Aging found evidence that the brains of postmenopausal women on ERT age differently and have greater blood flow to areas of the brain involved in memory formation than do women not receiving hormones. The study findings also suggest that ERT may lower susceptibility to the changes in the brain associated with Alzheimers disease. While these findings are promising, other studies have found no decrease in risk of developing Alzheimers disease or any cognitive improvement using ERT. Additional research is necessary to better understand the relationship among estrogen, the brain, and Alzheimers disease. Several studies currently are underway to further evaluate the potential value of ERT for Alzhe
