Skip to main content

Women develop Alzheimer's more than men due to hormones.

ALZHEIMER'S IN WOMEN :

A detailed new brain imaging study , examining a number of cognitively healthy middle aged subject is suggesting lower levels of estrogen in women post-menopause could play a role in triggering brain changes linked to Alzheimer's disease. The research hypothesizes this mechanism may be one of the reason why women suffer from Alzheimer's disease.


The research hypothesizes this mechanism may be one of the reason why women suffer from Alzheimer's at greater rates than men.
"About two-thirds of people living with Alzheimer's are women , and the general tend to live longer ," says Lisa Mosconi , an author on the new study from Weill Cornell Medicine.

However , over recent years many researchers have started exploring potential physiological reasons why there is suck start sex-specific differences in Alzheimer's cases.
One novel study last year , for example , pointed to a number of sex-specific genes that could heighten Alzheimer's risk in women , while another suggested structural and functional differences in female brains may accelerate the spread of toxic proteins.

This new study builds on what researchers have dubbed the "estrogen hypothesis". This hypothesis posits that women appear to show a heightened susceptibility to Alzheimer's because the drop in estrogen levels following menopause may exacerbate a predisposition to the brain changes associated with the neurodegenerative disease.

Based on this nascent hypothesis , the new research recruited 85 women and 36 women aged between 40 and 65 . All subjects were cognitively healthy and participated in detailed MRI and PET scans to measure four Alzheimer's related biomarkers, including levels of amyloid protein accumulations and rates of glucose metabolism.

Compared to the male control group , the women on average had 30% more amyloid accumulation , 22% lower glucose metabolism , and around 11 % less gray and white matter volume. Controlling for variables , the study found menopausal status was the most consistent predictor for these Alzheimer"s biomarkers , adding some weight to the estrogen hypothesis.

"While all sex hormones are likely involved , our findings suggest that declines in estrogen are involved in the Alzheimer's biomarkers abnormalities in women we observed , "says Mosconi" . The pattern of gray matter loss in particular shows anatomical overlap with the brain estrogen network.

The researchers say more work is needed before any conclusive recommendation is made regarding hormone replacement therapy for Alzheimer's risk reduction. It is also important to remember that Alzheimer's risk reduction. It is also important to remember that Alzheimer's is a significantly heterogenous disease , involving a complex volume of genetic and environmental factors. So obviously an estrogen decline following menopause cannot be considered a sole trigger for Alzheimer's in women.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

If you have any doubt. Let me know

Popular posts from this blog

Varicose veins and Spider Veins

What are varicose veins ? Varicose veins are veins under the skin of the legs which become widened , bulged and sometimes twisted. They are very common and do not cause medical problems in most people There are two main systems of the veins in the legs : Deep veins : The leg muscles squeeze the deep veins during walking, carrying most of the blood back up the legs to the heart. Superficial veins  : These occur under the skin which are less important and can form varicose veins. All of these veins contain one way valves to ensure that the blood flows towards the heart. Failure of these valves allows blood to flow backwards down the veins and results in an overload of pressure when standing. This excess pressure leads to widening of the veins so that they do not close properly. Blood then flows back into the leg along these veins and causes varicose veins to develop. Raised pressure in these veins also encourages the development of spider veins and discolored areas which look like br...
Post a Comment
Read more

DID PLACEBO EFFECT WORKS?

what is placebo effect? It is a phenomenon in which some people experience a benefit after the administration of inactive substance. A placebo is a fake treatment that in some cases it can produce a realistic result. This depends upon the expectation of the patient,the more a paerson expects the treatment will work, it is more likely to respond. Things that will influence the placebo effect includes                                                                          The nature of illness The belief system of the patient during treatment The expectation of the patient if fulfilling The positive message from the doctor about treatment EFFECT ON HORMONES Taking the placebo tretament triggered the release of endorphins. Endorphins have a similar structure as morphine an...
2 comments
Read more

Cervical cap : What Is It? How do you put it on?

What is a cervical cap? A cervical cup is a small cup made up of silicone that fits over the cervix (the part of the uterus that opens into the vagina ). It covers the cervix so sperm can't get in and fertilize an egg. It is a barrier method to prevent pregnancy. The cervical cap is reusable dome shaped cap made from non-allergic silicone rubber that is inserted into the vagina. The cervical cap is similar to the diaphragm . The only difference is it's slightly smaller and fits more tightly over the cervix. How does the cervical cap work? The cervical cap keeps sperm from entering the uterus and Fallopian tubes. If sperm cannot enter the Fallopian tubes to fertilize the egg , pregnancy can't occur. The cervical cap must be used with spermicide for maximum effectiveness. it stops the sperm from moving , and is second line of defense against pregnancy. How to use a cervical cap? You must have a prescription to get a cervical cap. This is because the cervical cap needs to be f...
Post a Comment
Read more