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Role of Estrogens in Dementing Illnesses: Hypotheses on the Biological Rationale

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Women’s Health and Menopause

Part of the book series: Medical Science Symposia Series ((MSSS,volume 13))

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Abstract

Epidemiological data [1] indicate that postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) may be associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and ERT may also improve the cognitive performance of AD affected women. Moreover epidemiological data [2] suggest a sex difference in the prevalence of AD. The decline in sex steroid levels during aging has been widely studied; the receptor distribution in brain mirrors the distribution of the neuropathological markers of AD, therefore it is possible that estrogen levels decay in postmenopause contributes to the exacerbation of molecular events taking place with aging, thus leading to the development of AD.

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© 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers and Fondazione Giovanni Lorenzini

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Govoni, S., Solano, D., Solerte, B.S., Guaita, A., Racchi, M. (1999). Role of Estrogens in Dementing Illnesses: Hypotheses on the Biological Rationale. In: Women’s Health and Menopause. Medical Science Symposia Series, vol 13. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-585-37973-9_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-585-37973-9_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-5906-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-585-37973-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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