Hormones and Alzheimer’s Disease
As I’ve mentioned, in women’s brains, particularly those that are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and who are carriers of this APOE4 gene, there are noticeable differences in the structure and function of the brain. There’s a relationship between APOE4, estrogen and having two X chromosomes, at least that is what we believe to be the case.
Now there’s another layer or risk because we know that women who have their ovaries removed before the natural age of menopause and therefore have an abrupt and somewhat unnatural decline in their ability to produce estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, are particularly susceptible to development of Alzheimer’s disease.