Estrogen and schizophrenia in women: animal models lend a hand in understanding cognition

Abstract

Women experience a differential onset of schizophrenia symptoms and a bi-modal peak of onset in the early years of adulthood and in the post-menopausal period. Cognitive deficits that accompany schizophrenia are some of the more severe symptoms associated with the disease. The understanding of the mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction is still very limited and its understanding can bring important contributions to the adequate clinical management of the disease. Using rodent research to explore cognition, and how female hormones may affect cognitive decline with age in the context of schizophrenia can expand our understanding and perhaps offer more treatment options.