Selective sparing of brain tissue in postmenopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy

Neurobiol Aging. 2005 Aug-Sep;26(8):1205-13. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2004.11.009. Epub 2005 Jan 7.

Abstract

Determining the benefits and/or drawbacks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on women's health is an imperative public health goal. Research in rodents suggests benefits of estrogen on neuronal growth and function. However, little research has investigated the effects of HRT on brain tissue in humans. We used high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging and an optimized voxel-based morphometric technique to examine the effects of HRT on brain volume in postmenopausal women. We report two main results: (a) HRT is associated with the sparing of grey matter in prefrontal, parietal, and temporal brain regions and white matter in medial temporal lobe regions, and (b) longer durations of therapy are associated with greater sparing of grey matter tissue. HRT should be considered a possible mediator of age-related neural decline in both grey and white matter tissues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Atrophy / drug therapy*
  • Atrophy / pathology
  • Atrophy / prevention & control
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cerebral Cortex / drug effects*
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Estrogen Replacement Therapy*
  • Female
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Memory Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Memory Disorders / pathology
  • Memory Disorders / prevention & control
  • Middle Aged
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / drug effects
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / pathology
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / pathology
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / prevention & control
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones