By
The Associated Press
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Researchers have found a critical link in understanding exactly how the principal estrogen produced by a woman's ovaries helps to keep the brain safe from injury from stroke and other age-related brain conditions.
An estrogen receptor, called ER-alpha, must be present in the brain for the estrogen hormone estradiol to display its protective effect, said Phyllis Wise, professor and chair of physiology at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.
Results of a recent study conducted by Wise and graduate student Dena Dubal were published in the February issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"We've known for a long time that estrogen is necessary for female reproduction, and that estrogen levels change dramatically throughout a woman's life," Wise said. "When I began my research several years ago, I wanted to understand how those changes affected several physiological systems.
"What we've found is that estrogen plays numerous roles, including acting as a protective agent against brain injury caused by strokes."
Research at other institutions also has shown that estrogen may actually improve cognition as well as serve as a protective agent against Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, said Dr. Bruce McEwen, a professor who is also in charge of The Rockefeller University Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology.
"It's an exciting time for research in this area, there's no doubt about that," said McEwen, who was not associated with the Kentucky study. "Despite earlier research that indicated some negative effects, things are now moving in the direction that some type of estrogen replacement therapy can be very beneficial."
