Evaluation of Estrogen Treatment in Female Patients with Dementia of the Alzheimer Type.

Abstract

Abstract. This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of estrogen in female patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). Fifteen DAT patients with a mean age of (x ± SE) 71.9 ± 2.4 years were treated with 0.625 mg of conjugated equine estrogens orally twice a day for 6 weeks. Of the 15 DAT patients, 4 were diagnosed as mild, 7 as moderate and 4 as severe. The effects of estrogen on DAT patients were evaluated by psychometric assessments, behavior rating scales, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) measurement and quantitative EEG analysis. Psychometric assessments consisted of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS). Dementia syndromes were evaluated by the CBS-Scale (GBSS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). During estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), the mean MMSE score (x ± SE) increased significantly from 11.6 ± 1.9 to 13.2 ± 2.0 at 3 weeks (P<0.01) and 13.8 ± 2.0 at 6 weeks (P<0.001). The mean HDS score increased significantly from 8.6 ± 2.1 to 11.5 ± 2.3 at 3 weeks (P<0.001) and 11.6 ± 2.6 at 6 weeks (P<0.01). Significant improvements in the mean scores of the GBSS and HDRS were also observed in the estrogentreated group, but not in the untreated control group with a mean age of 71.2 ± 2.5 years (n=15). The rCBF was measured by single photon emission computed tomography (SPELT). ERT increased the mean rCBF significantly in the lower frontal region (P<0.01) and primary motor area (P<0.02) of the right hemisphere. The mean absolute power delta band values in both left and right frontal EEG (Fp, and Fp2) (P<0.01) and theta1 band values in Fp2 (P<0.05) decreased significantly during ERT. It is inferred that ERT significantly improves cognitive functions, dementia symptoms, regional cerebral blood flow and EEG activity in female patients with DAT.

Frontal Cerebral Blood Flow Changes after Hormone Replacement Therapy in Depressed Postmenopausal Women

“…Consistent with previous reports (Ohkura et al, 1994;Hogervorst et al, 2002), we found an improved cognitive function in menopausal women after HRT. Recent animal studies have suggested biologic mechanisms through which estrogen may maintain neuronal function (Dubal and Wise, 2001).…”

Estrogen and Non-Feminizing Estrogen for Alzheimer's Disease

“…Many clinical studies have supported the therapeutic effect of estrogen on AD, since Fillit et al [20] first reported an open trial of estradiol-17b (E 2 ) therapy for AD (Table 2) [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. However, the therapeutic effect was not established.…”

Daidzein Activates Choline Acetyltransferase from MC-IXC Cells and Improves Drug-Induced Amnesia

“…19,20) Epidemiological evidence supports the notion that estrogen replacement therapy can be used to effect a reduction in the incidence of AD in post-menopausal women, 21) and several clinical trials have reported that estrogen therapy improves cognitive functioning in patients who suffer from AD. 22,23) Estrogen causes an increase in ChAT activity in the specific basal forebrain nuclei and projection areas of female rats. 24) The cell bodies of the ACh-containing neurons are known to be principally situated in the basal forebrain, and have been demonstrated to transmit ACh to the cortical and hippocampal regions, as well as to the amygdale.…”

“…Male ICR mice (Samtaco BioKorea, Seoul, Korea), weighing 25-30 g, were used in passive avoidance and Y-maze tests after a one-week adaptation period (20)(21)(22)(23) C; 12 h light cycle from 09:00 to 21:00; food, Agribrand Purina Korea, and water ad libitum). The experimental procedures were approved by the guidelines established by the Animal Care and Use Committee at Korea University.…”