Can estrogen keep you smart? Evidence from clinical studies.
Year: 1999
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To review and critically analyze the biological plausibility of and the clinical empirical evidence concerning a link between estrogen levels and memory in women. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE search of the literature published from 1980 to 1998. Studies published between 1952 and 1980 that were known to the author were also included. STUDY SELECTION: Sixteen prospective, placebo-controlled studies in humans. DATA SYNTHESIS: Most of the studies that used neuropsychological tests with known reliability and validity found that estrogen maintained aspects of memory in women. CONCLUSIONS: Estrogen specifically maintains verbal memory in women and may prevent or forestall the deterioration in short- and long-term memory that occurs with normal aging. There is also evidence that estrogen decreases the incidence of Alzheimer disease or retards its onset or both.
Source: PubMed
Author: B B Sherwin
Institution: McGill University
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W9210012