Alzheimer’s Disease is the 6TH LEADING CAUSE of death in the United States.
MORE THAN 5 MILLION Americans are living with Alzheimer’s.
EVERY 67 SECONDS, someone in the United States develops the disease.
Alzheimers Disease (AD) seems to have many different root causes including insulin resistance (AD has been referred to as Type 3 diabetes), exposure to toxins and heavy metals, uncontrolled inflammation, food intolerances and changes in neurotransmitter levels. There is a significant decline in the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in AD patients, and a relationship between this and changes in hormone levels. This could be one of the reasons that the disease affects much more women. Estrogen stimulates the synthesis of acetylcholine, which is essential for memory storage. Further, estrogen protects the brain from oxidative stress, amyloid plaque and glutamate induced toxicity. In fact, estrogen replacement has been shown to improve memory and cognition in women with Alzheimer’s disease and lowers the risk of developing AD in the first place. Just replacing Estradiol – the most potent estrogen – slashes women’s AD risk in half.
Progesterone is an anti-inflammatory agent in the brain and increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF supports the survival of nerve cells and encourages the growth of new ones. Progesterone also protects against amyloid plaque toxicity.
The restoration of balanced hormones is an integral part of the treatment and prevention for Alzheimer’s disease. Maintaining optimal hormone levels protects against the damage and degeneration that leads to Alzheimer’s disease in the first place.
References:
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp
Estrogen reduces the incidence of Alzheimers disease by 50%. JAMA 2002; 288:2123-2129.
Estrogen protects against neuron-degeneration, changes in mood, cognition and behavior. Clinical Genetics 1998 May;6(5):15-19.
Estrogen and progesterone are neuro-protective against cerebral damage. National Academy Science USA; 2003 Sept. 2;100(8):10506-11.
Multiple medical studies have demonstrated estrogen’s protective effects against Alzheimer’s, memory loss, loss of cognition. Estrogen prevents urogenital atrophy, painful intercourse and stress incontinence. Estrogen decreases colorectal cancer. Estrogen decreases cataracts and macular degeneration. Biomedica Jan. 2000; Vol. 3 (1): 6-9
(patients should be told the harm of estrogen deficiency)