Maturitas
Volume 31, Issue 2 , Pages 95-101, 4 January 1999

Menopause and estrogen deficiency as a risk factor in dementing illness: hypothesis on the biological basis

  • Sebastiano B. Solerte

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Gerontologic Clinic, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
    • ,
  • Marisa Fioravanti

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Gerontologic Clinic, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
    • ,
  • Marco Racchi

      Affiliations

    • IRCCS San Giovanni di Dio, Ospedale ‘Sacro Cuore di Gesu’ Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
    • ,
  • Marco Trabucchi

      Affiliations

    • Department Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
    • ,
  • Orazio Zanetti

      Affiliations

    • IRCCS San Giovanni di Dio, Ospedale ‘Sacro Cuore di Gesu’ Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
    • ,
  • Stefano Govoni

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Pharmacology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author

Received 15 November 1997; received in revised form 24 February 1998; accepted 6 April 1998.

Abstract 

The positive efficacy of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a matter of intense debate among clinicians and neuroscientists. The experimental and preliminary clinical evidence supporting the use of ERT are based on epidemiological data and on the study of the effect of estrogens on several aspects of brain homeostasis, including the modulation of neurotransmitters and vascular changes. In spite of numerous data available the mechanisms underlying the putative estrogen effects in neurodegenerative diseases are largely unknown. The aim of this paper is to discuss and elaborate on some of the hypotheses and controversial findings currently present in this field

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, Estrogens, Neuroprotection, Apolipoprotein E, Risk factors, Amyloid precursor protein, Neuroimmune interactions, Glucose metabolism

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PII: S0378-5122(98)00111-X

Maturitas
Volume 31, Issue 2 , Pages 95-101, 4 January 1999

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