Aging, estrogens, and episodic memory in women.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To review the relation in midlife and beyond between estrogen exposures and episodic memory in women.

Background

Episodic memory performance declines with usual aging, and impairments in episodic memory often portend the development of Alzheimer disease. In the laboratory, estradiol influences hippocampal function and animal learning. However, it is controversial whether estrogens affect memory after a woman's reproductive years.

Method

Focused literature review, including a summary of a systematic search of clinical trials of estrogens in which outcomes included an objective measure of episodic memory.

Results

The natural menopause transition is not associated with the objective changes in episodic memory. Strong clinical trial evidence indicates tha

SUBMITTER: Henderson VW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2791907 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature