Dementia: is there a role for hormone replacement therapy?

Abstract

The population of the western world is ageing and it has been estimated that, by the year 2050, 30% of people in western Europe will be aged over 65 years old, with up to 10% suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Further, women have a significantly higher risk of developing AD than men, which exceeds the risk accounted for by their greater life-expectancy. This has contributed to the hypothesis that reduction in estrogens postmenopause may contribute to the cascade of pathological processes leading to AD. This theory is supported by our current understanding of the biological actions of estrogen on brain structure and function. However, studies into the role of estrogen therapy (ET) for the prevention and treatment of AD have led to equivocal findings. This lecture will therefore briefly summarize some of the recent biological studies into the effects of estrogen on the brain and then discuss our current understanding of the role of ET in AD.