Sex hormones and cognition in aging

Gurvich, Caroline; Le, Jessica; Thomas, Natalie; Thomas, Elizabeth; Kulkarni, Jayashri

doi:10.1016/bs.vh.2020.12.020

Cited by 16 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 119 publications

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“…Middle-aged women have a 2-to 3-fold increased risk compared with men in developing AD [98]. Although women on average live longer than men, it is clear that other factors also contribute to the increased AD risk in women, including sex hormones, genetic factors, and environment including geographic location [99][100][101][102][103]. In addition, women converts faster from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to AD and present a more aggravated AD pathophysiology than men [104,105].…”

Section: Estrogen Receptors In Alzheimer's Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

Estrogen receptors and the aging brain

Maioli

Leander

Nilsson

et al. 2021

Essays in Biochemistry

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The female sex hormone estrogen has been ascribed potent neuroprotective properties. It signals by binding and activating estrogen receptors that, depending on receptor subtype and upstream or downstream effectors, can mediate gene transcription and rapid non-genomic actions. In this way, estrogen receptors in the brain participate in modulating neural differentiation, proliferation, neuroinflammation, cholesterol metabolism, synaptic plasticity, and behavior. Circulating sex hormones decrease in the course of aging, more rapidly at menopause in women, and slower in men. This review will discuss what this drop entails in terms of modulating neuroprotection and resilience in the aging brain downstream of spatiotemporal estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) signaling, as well as in terms of the sex differences observed in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). In addition, controversies related to ER expression in the brain will be discussed. Understanding the spatiotemporal signaling of sex hormones in the brain can lead to more personalized prevention strategies or therapies combating neurodegenerative diseases.

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Section: Estrogen Receptors In Alzheimer's Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

Estrogen receptors and the aging brain

Maioli

Leander

Nilsson

et al. 2021

Essays in Biochemistry

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“…Ovarian function deteriorates as women age, resulting in a lack of steroid hormones and infertility ( 40 , 41 ). Ginsenosides can promote the release of steroid hormones to play an estrogen-like role ( 42 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ginsenosides improve reproductive capability of aged female Drosophila through mechanism dependent on ecdysteroid receptor (ECR) and steroid signaling pathway

Liu

et al. 2022

Front. Endocrinol.

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Aging ovaries caused diminished fertility and depleted steroid hormone level. Ginsenosides, the active ingredient in ginseng, had estrogen-like hormonal effects. Although ginsenosides were well known for their ability to alleviate many age-related degenerative diseases, the effect of ginsenosides on the decline in reproductive capability caused by aging, as well as the mechanism, are unknown. We found that ginsenosides improved the quantity and quality of the offspring, prolonged life and restored muscle ability in aged female Drosophila. In addition, ginsenosides inhibited ovarian atrophy and maintained steroid hormone 20-Hydroxyecdysone (20E) and juvenile-preserving hormone (JH)) levels. Ginsenosides activated ecdysteroid receptor (ECR) and increased the expression of the early transcription genes E74 and Broad (Br), which triggered steroid signaling pathway. Meanwhile, ginsenosides promoted JH biosynthesis by increasing the expression of Hydroxyl-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) and juvenile hormone acid O-methyltransferase (JHAMT). Subsequently, JH was bound to Methoprene Tolerant (Met) and activated the transcription of the responsive gene Kruppel Homolog 1 (Kr-h1), which coordinated with 20E signaling to promote the reproduction of aged female Drosophila. The reproductive capacity and steroid hormone levels were not improved and the steroid signaling pathway was not activated in ginsenoside-treated ECR knockout Drosophila. This suggested that ginsenosides played a role dependent on targeted ECR. Furthermore, 17 kinds of ginsenoside monomers were identified from the total ginsenosides. Among them, Rg1, Re and Rb1 improved the reproductive capacity and steroid hormone levels of aged female Drosophila, which has similar effects to the total ginsenoside. These results indicated that ginsenosides could enhance the reproductive capacity of aged female Drosophila by activating steroid signals dependent on nuclear receptor ECR. In addition, ginsenoside monomers Rg1, Rb1 and Re are the main active components of total ginsenosides to improve reproductive ability. This will provide strong evidence that ginsenosides had the potential to alleviate age-induced reproductive degradation.

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“…For many years, it was theorized that this increased risk was due to women's grief over the loss of their fertility (1) or that depressive mood was triggered by the "empty nest syndrome" as adult offspring moved away from the family home (2); however, these outdated theories have since been dispelled and abandoned. A biopsychosocial model has replaced these theories that emphasizes the key role of hormonal changes during the menopause transition and the direct impact these changes have on the brain (3) as well as the role they play in triggering bothersome menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, and cognitive complaints, in turn negatively impacting quality of life (4)(5)(6).…”

Section: Editorial On the Research Topic The Psychology Of Menopausementioning

confidence: 99%