You are here

Estrogen, brain structure, and cognition in postmenopausal women.

TitleEstrogen, brain structure, and cognition in postmenopausal women.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsBoyle, CP, Raji, CA, Erickson, KI, Lopez, OL, Becker, JT, H Gach, M, Kuller, LH, Longstreth, W, Carmichael, OT, Riedel, BC, Thompson, PM
JournalHum Brain Mapp
Date Published2020 Sep 10
ISSN1097-0193
Abstract<p>Declining estrogen levels before, during, and after menopause can affect memory and risk for Alzheimer's disease. Undesirable side effects of hormone variations emphasize a role for hormone therapy (HT) where possible benefits include a delay in the onset of dementia-yet findings are inconsistent. Effects of HT may be mediated by estrogen receptors found throughout the brain. Effects may also depend on lifestyle factors, timing of use, and genetic risk. We studied the impact of self-reported HT use on brain volume in 562 elderly women (71-94 years) with mixed cognitive status while adjusting for aforementioned factors. Covariate-adjusted voxelwise linear regression analyses using a model with 16 predictors showed HT use as positively associated with regional brain volumes, regardless of cognitive status. Examinations of other factors related to menopause, oophorectomy and hysterectomy status independently yielded positive effects on brain volume when added to our model. One interaction term, HTxBMI, out of several examined, revealed significant negative association with overall brain volume, suggesting a greater reduction in brain volume than BMI alone. Our main findings relating HT to regional brain volume were as hypothesized, but some exploratory analyses were not in line with existing hypotheses. Studies suggest lower levels of estrogen resulting from oophorectomy and hysterectomy affect brain volume negatively, and the addition of HT modifies the relation between BMI and brain volume positively. Effects of HT may depend on the age range assessed, motivating studies with a wider age range as well as a randomized design.</p>
DOI10.1002/hbm.25200
Alternate JournalHum Brain Mapp
PubMed ID32910516
Grant List / NH / NIH HHS / United States
KL2 TR000450 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States
P01 AG026572 / NH / NIH HHS / United States
R56AG058854 / NH / NIH HHS / United States
P01AG055367 / NH / NIH HHS / United States
P41 EB015922 / NH / NIH HHS / United States
R01AG060610 / NH / NIH HHS / United States
/ / National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) /
HL080295 / / National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) /
N01-HC-45133 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-75150 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC-55222 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC-15103 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-35129 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85086 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85079 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85239 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
ePub date: 
20/09