ESTROGEN REPLACEMENT THERAPY FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Authors
Citation
Vw. Henderson, ESTROGEN REPLACEMENT THERAPY FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE, CNS DRUGS, 8(5), 1997, pp. 343-351
Citations number
89
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences,"Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Journal title
ISSN journal
11727047
Volume
8
Issue
5
Year of publication
1997
Pages
343 - 351
Database
ISI
SICI code
1172-7047(1997)8:5<343:ERTFTP>2.0.ZU;2-S
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is characterised by the gradual but progressive lo ss of memory and other cognitive abilities. Pathological features incl ude the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles, neuritic plaques and beta-amyloid protein within vulnerable regions of the brain. A number of actions of estrogen have the potential to affect brain function and influence the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Early-onset Alzheimer 's disease is a relatively infrequent disorder which is usually inheri ted in an autosomal dominant manner. However, for late-onset illness, it is likely that several genetic and environmental factors are pathog enetically important. A number of epidemiological studies link postmen opausal hormonal replacement therapy to a reduced risk of developing A lzheimer's disease. Estrogen can affect cognition and mood, and a numb er of generally small intervention trials suggest that estrogen improv es cognitive skills among women with Alzheimer's disease. However, mos t treatment studies have not been conducted in a methodologically rigo rous fashion. There are no firm data on different estrogen preparation s and dosages or on the role of progestins in the prevention and treat ment of Alzheimer's disease in women, and no data support the use of e strogen for this disorder in men.