New research is finding that there is a possible correlation for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with the age-related loss of hormones in both women and men.
What is Alzheimer's Disease?
Alzheimer's disease if a form of dementia that is characterized by neurodegenerative changes in the brain. These include neurofibrillary tangle (nerve fibers of the brain get tangled up together) and senile plaque, or a substance called beta amyloid. Oxidative stress causes the nerve fibers of the brain to entangle, and beta amyloid to deposit and buildup in the brain. This eventually starts to disrupt normal brain function and causes death to brain cells.
Every sixty-five seconds, just in the United States alone, someone develops Alzheimer's disease!
Estrogen
It's important to note that women are more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Women actually have an 8X higher risk of developing AD than men do. This is considered to be due to age-related loss of estrogen in menopausal women. Research shows that women diagnosed with AD have lower levels of estrogen than women of the same age without symptoms of AD. Once in their sixties women have a 2x higher risk for developing AD than breast cancer.
Research shows that estrogen has several actions that help in protecting the brain. These include reducing the accumulation of beta amyloid in the brain. Healthy estrogen levels also increase the blood flow to the brain and relieve oxidative stress by working as an antioxidant. This reduces the likely hood of tangled nerve fibers.
Testosterone
Normal age-related testosterone loss in men is associated with increased risk of several diseases including Alzheimer's. Beginning around age 40 men testosterone in men begins to decline by 1-2% a year. Like estrogen, testosterone has been proven to protect the brain by increasing brain cell resilience and reducing beta amyloid deposits in the brain.
Studies have shown that treatment with testosterone not only decreases the secretion of beta amyloid in the brain but can also help clean up existing plaque.
Both estrogen and testosterone protect the brain which improves cognition and memory. When the body's hormones are in balance and at optimal levels, they work like antioxidants by decreasing inflammation in the body and around nerve fibers in the brain, increasing blood flow to the brain and decreasing the production of the substance beta amyloid.
Thats why when it comes to brain health, hormone optimization is key!
Here at Alpha Wellness Lab, we proudly offer hormone replacement therapies for men and women! We would love to be a part of your health and wellness journey!
To learn more about hormone replacement therapy for women click here.
To learn more about hormone replacement therapy for men click here.
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