Dementia affects millions of people around the world, with an adult developing it every 4 seconds worldwide. This disease robs people of their awareness, their memories, their cognitive functions, and eventually their ability to perform tasks for themselves. Dementia often forces people to live in a nursing facility for the rest of their lives. As of right now there is no known cure for dementia, so doctors and scientists are recommending preventative measures to their patients in order to avoid the disease, growing concern as Baby Boomers are reaching their golden years. Since women on average live longer than men, keeping their minds intact into old age is a high priority. New research from Norway suggests that taking estrogen throughout menopause can help strengthen brain tissue and prevent dementia.
This Norwegian study followed 80 participants who took estrogen supplements before the onset of or at the start of menopause. They compared them with 80 participants who had never taken such supplements and found that the women who had been taken estrogen had a larger hippocampus than those who had decided to not take the hormone. The hippocampus is linked to memory and is an area of the brain that is heavily affected by dementia.
This news is encouraging for women who wish to avoid dementia as it is an early preventive measure that they can take. The leader of the study did mention that there seems to be a limited window of time for women to glean these brain benefits from estrogen, since studies of women using estrogen after having gone through menopause were shown to have none of these effects. That being the case women should seek hormone replacement therapy from their doctor before menopause begins or at the very early stages of menopause when estrogen seems to be able to reinforce the hippocampus.
This study is the beginning of some promising research that can help us better understand dementia, how to prevent it, and hopefully, eventually, find a cure for this disease. Find out if you are a good candidate for hormone replacement therapy from a doctor. Taking this simple step now can help you preserve your mind for the future, as you enjoy your golden years with your family and friends.
For more information on hormone replacement therapy, contact Metro MediSpa at 888-637-7228.
