After discovering that women had more brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease than men, the researchers used statistical analysis to identify which risk factors, including age, years of education, cholesterol levels, smoking, diet, exercise levels, diabetes, menopause, hormonal therapy and hysterectomy, among others, may be responsible. “Menopause was the number one predictor of Alzheimer's changes in women’s brains,” Dr. Mosconi said.
Hormonal therapy was also associated with Alzheimer’s disease, with women who were taking hormones having fewer negative brain changes than those not taking hormones, though larger studies are needed to understand the influence of this therapy on brain health.
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Dr. Mosconi would like to evaluate what types and doses of hormonal therapy might be beneficial for brain function and at which point in a woman’s life is best to prescribe it, while also considering associated risks such as heart disease and blood clots, which may vary by age.
Dr. Mosconi would also like to follow women in the current study to see who does and does not develop Alzheimer’s disease and to study larger numbers and more diverse groups of patients to help verify findings.
“Women’s brains have been overlooked in research and in medicine, and it's time to really address this bias,” Dr. Mosconi said. “As women, we deserve appropriate healthcare.”
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