HRT drugs can shrink brain
COMMON forms of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can shrink the brains of post-menopausal women.
The discovery, reported in the journal Neurology, may explain earlier findings associating HRT with an increased risk of memory loss and dementia.
Researchers carried out brain scans on 1,400 women aged 71 to 89 who had participated in the Women’s Health Initiative, a major American study.
They found women who had been on HRT had smaller brain volumes in two key areas than those given a placebo. Brain volume was 2.37cc lower in the frontal lobe and 0.10cc lower in the hippocampus.
Both areas of the brain are involved in thinking and memory skills, and hippocampus shrinkage is a known risk factor for dementia.
The study leader, Dr Susan Resnick, of the US National Institute on Ageing in Baltimore, Maryland, said: “These effects were most apparent in women who may already have had some memory problems before they started taking hormones.”
She added: “This suggests that oestrogen may adversely affect thinking skills among women whose brains may already be beginning a neurodegenerative disease process.”
It had been thought “silent strokes” might account for some memory-loss in HRT users.
The Women’s Health Initiative trial was a landmark American study which highlighted a link between long-term HRT and increased stroke risk.
Published Date: 13 January 2009 By angus howarth
Source: http://news.scotsman.com/world/HRT—drugs-.4868096.jp
Tags: Dr Susan Resnick, Hormone, HRT, replacement, study, therapy
February 11th, 2009 at 23:14
I am 62 years old and have been on HRT for 28 years until November last year, when I chose to come off it. Due to an early menopause (I was 31)I started with implants aged 33/4 for several years until I had a total Hysterectomy, then my doctor changed it tablets, I do not remember which type they were. My doctor did ask to see me over the length of time I have been using HRT. I did ask to have the dosage reduced and I was then given Elleste-Solo 1mg.
I am amazed when I read the above report, because I have said for years that I am losing my memory, speaking with words mixed up. I even went to see my doctor several years ago and mentioned these things saying that I was sure I was starting with “pre senile dementia” but nobody took me seriously. My doctors reply was “Olwyn you have too many things going on in your head”
In Fact I have turned my failings into a joke just by stating the above. I feel that things are getting worse for me and I worry about the future. This is the only reverence I have seen that may explain what has been happening to me.
1 Cant remember shopping without a list and then I forget to take list!
2 Nearly every meal I cook I forget to put at least 1 ingredient in, even though I have to re read the recipe about 8 times.
3 When I have been driving occasionally I could not remember where I was going, only that I knew I was on the right road to where ever it was. I have stopped the car till I realized.
I came across this site because since I stopped taking HRT I have been suffering with strange pains in my bones, such as my spine,knee and ankle. I thought may be there is a connection, a kind of withdrawal symptom. The last thing I expected to find was a possible explanation for my “Senility”
I hope I have not taken up too much of your time, I am not even sure that this is for the public to reply to or for medical profession only.
I would like to thank you any way for taking the time to read this and hope you may be able to reply.
Best Regards
from
Mrs Olwyn Collinge
March 1st, 2009 at 13:43
Hello Olwyn, can you please email me and then I may be able to help you. As you have read, I was on H.R.T. FOR 15 YEARS, and I lived in North London, as a driver, some times I would be gong to an appointment in North London, and in a split second would be in South London, and did not know why, it was like a black out in my mind, it was like only seconds had passed, yet it could take over one hour to drive to South London, and so it was very dangerous. Its time the media started to help us women with the side effects of H.R.T.so we may help our selfs to understand what has, and is happening to our lifes and health.
I already know the full side effects from the thousands of women on the data base, and have collated all the evedence.
Regards
Maggie Tuttle
September 23rd, 2009 at 19:43
Hello Maggie, sorry I have only just found your reply. we had problems family problems in England & had to go back for 4 weeks and was thought that if I should get a reply it would be via e-mail.At the moment we have friends over from England till next Friday. If you want I can phone you after that. Kind regards from Olwyn Collinge