Oestrogens and Alzheimer's disease

In the last decade, several reports suggest that oestrogen replacement ther apy (ORT = ERT = estrogen replacement therapy) might prevent or delay Alzhe imer's disease. Oestrogens influence and modulate brain structure and brain function. There are substantial arguments that the postmenopausal oestroge n loss might, together with other factors, accelerate the appearance of Alz heimer's disease. The evidence is suggestive, but not compelling, that ORT can reduce the relative risk to suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Furthermor e, recent findings are consistent with the hypothesis that oestrogens might ameliorate the symptomatology in early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Howe ver, it has to be remembered that in most clinical trials the number of oes trogen users was quite small, and, usually, oestrogen use was not randomise d. The aim of the present review is to discuss the data available today in view of their clinical relevance. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd .