HRT 'might ward off Alzheimer's'

HRT 'might ward off Alzheimer's'


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7312252.stm


There is no cure for dementia
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may protect post-menopausal women
against memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.
A study found women's memories are affected when their bodies stop
producing the hormone oestrogen - as happens at the menopause.

However, London's Institute of Psychiatry found memory recovered when
hormone supplies were restored - the effect achieved by HRT.

Women have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's than men.

There may be a critical window of time around the menopause when
HRT may have a beneficial effect in protecting against Alzheimer's
dementia

Dr Michael Craig
Institute of Psychiatry

It is estimated that around 450,000 women in the UK have the disease.

There is a theory that oestrogen may help prevent the build up of
damaging protein tangles in the brain which are thought to trigger
cell death, and Alzheimer's.

But when supplies of the hormone are abruptly cut at the menopause,
women may become more vulnerable.

A major US study found no evidence of a protective effect from HRT -
and even suggested the combined form of the treatment might increase
the general risk of dementia.

However, UK experts argue that this study focused on older women, who
did not receive HRT immediately after the menopause.

Fibroid surgery

The latest research was carried out on 30 young, pre-menopausal women
who were having surgery for benign womb growths called fibroids.

The patients were given a drug which shrinks the fibroids, but which
also temporarily shuts down the ovaries, producing a state similar to
the menopause.

Each woman was given a memory test before, during and after
treatment, when their ovaries were once again producing oestrogen.

Average scores were similar before and after treatment, but dipped by
about 10% while the women's ovaries were shut down.

The researchers also recorded reduced levels of activity in an area
of the brain called the pre-frontal cortex during treatment, which is
linked to learning and memory.

Lead researcher Dr Michael Craig said evidence was growing that sex
hormones, such as oestrogen, did have a direct effect on the brain.

He said: "There may be a critical window of time around the menopause
when HRT may have a beneficial effect in protecting against
Alzheimer's dementia.

However, Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research
Trust, said: "This is not conclusive evidence and women are not
advised to start HRT specifically to protect against dementia since
it can have side-effects and possibly increase the risk of stroke."

Certain forms of HRT have been linked to an increased risk of cancer
and heart disease, although once again the evidence is not clear cut.

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.

That's bull. The evidence of HRT damages is well documented and there are plenty of victims dead and alive. This is just another attempt to keep customers and gains pharma customers. We all know how the studies are altered to present any profit agenda pharma has. No, you'd thin, that they might mention whether of not any drug was given in the procedures would cause the results that they reported.

To: SSRI-Crusaders%40yahoogroups.com">SSRI-Crusadersyahoogroups.com
From: jeremybryce1953%40btinternet.com">jeremybryce1953btinternet.com
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:04:25 +0000
Subject: [SSRI-Crusaders] HRT 'might ward off Alzheimer's'

HRT 'might ward off Alzheimer's'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7312252.stm

There is no cure for dementia

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may protect post-menopausal women

against memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.

A study found women's memories are affected when their bodies stop

producing the hormone oestrogen - as happens at the menopause.

However, London's Institute of Psychiatry found memory recovered when

hormone supplies were restored - the effect achieved by HRT.

Women have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's than men.

There may be a critical window of time around the menopause when

HRT may have a beneficial effect in protecting against Alzheimer's

dementia

Dr Michael Craig

Institute of Psychiatry

It is estimated that around 450,000 women in the UK have the disease.

There is a theory that oestrogen may help prevent the build up of

damaging protein tangles in the brain which are thought to trigger

cell death, and Alzheimer's.

But when supplies of the hormone are abruptly cut at the menopause,

women may become more vulnerable.

A major US study found no evidence of a protective effect from HRT -

and even suggested the combined form of the treatment might increase

the general risk of dementia.

However, UK experts argue that this study focused on older women, who

did not receive HRT immediately after the menopause.

Fibroid surgery

The latest research was carried out on 30 young, pre-menopausal women

who were having surgery for benign womb growths called fibroids.

The patients were given a drug which shrinks the fibroids, but which

also temporarily shuts down the ovaries, producing a state similar to

the menopause.

Each woman was given a memory test before, during and after

treatment, when their ovaries were once again producing oestrogen.

Average scores were similar before and after treatment, but dipped by

about 10% while the women's ovaries were shut down.

The researchers also recorded reduced levels of activity in an area

of the brain called the pre-frontal cortex during treatment, which is

linked to learning and memory.

Lead researcher Dr Michael Craig said evidence was growing that sex

hormones, such as oestrogen, did have a direct effect on the brain.

He said: "There may be a critical window of time around the menopause

when HRT may have a beneficial effect in protecting against

Alzheimer's dementia.

However, Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research

Trust, said: "This is not conclusive evidence and women are not

advised to start HRT specifically to protect against dementia since

it can have side-effects and possibly increase the risk of stroke."

Certain forms of HRT have been linked to an increased risk of cancer

and heart disease, although once again the evidence is not clear cut.














__________________________________________________________
How well do you know your celebrity gossip?
http://originals.msn.com/thebigdebate?ocid=T002MSN03N0707A

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Messages in this topic (2) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic

.

My thoughts exactly.

I have heard that the natural hormone therapies are better but that the FDA
is supressing the natural and less dangerous therapies. Probably to protect
the drug makers profits.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brenda Durant&quot; < Durant_B%40msn.com">Durant_Bmsn.com&gt;
To: < ssri-crusaders%40yahoogroups.com">ssri-crusadersyahoogroups.com>;
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 10:16 AM
Subject: RE: [SSRI-Crusaders] More Pharma Bull HRT 'might ward off
Alzheimer's'

That's bull. The evidence of HRT damages is well documented and there are
plenty of victims dead and alive. This is just another attempt to keep
customers and gains pharma customers. We all know how the studies are
altered to present any profit agenda pharma has. No, you'd thin, that they
might mention whether of not any drug was given in the procedures would
cause the results that they reported.

To: SSRI-Crusaders%40yahoogroups.com">SSRI-Crusadersyahoogroups.com
From: jeremybryce1953%40btinternet.com">jeremybryce1953btinternet.com
Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:04:25 +0000
Subject: [SSRI-Crusaders] HRT 'might ward off Alzheimer's'

HRT 'might ward off Alzheimer's'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7312252.stm

There is no cure for dementia

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may protect post-menopausal women

against memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.

A study found women's memories are affected when their bodies stop

producing the hormone oestrogen - as happens at the menopause.

However, London's Institute of Psychiatry found memory recovered when

hormone supplies were restored - the effect achieved by HRT.

Women have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's than men.

There may be a critical window of time around the menopause when

HRT may have a beneficial effect in protecting against Alzheimer's

dementia

Dr Michael Craig

Institute of Psychiatry

It is estimated that around 450,000 women in the UK have the disease.

There is a theory that oestrogen may help prevent the build up of

damaging protein tangles in the brain which are thought to trigger

cell death, and Alzheimer's.

But when supplies of the hormone are abruptly cut at the menopause,

women may become more vulnerable.

A major US study found no evidence of a protective effect from HRT -

and even suggested the combined form of the treatment might increase

the general risk of dementia.

However, UK experts argue that this study focused on older women, who

did not receive HRT immediately after the menopause.

Fibroid surgery

The latest research was carried out on 30 young, pre-menopausal women

who were having surgery for benign womb growths called fibroids.

The patients were given a drug which shrinks the fibroids, but which

also temporarily shuts down the ovaries, producing a state similar to

the menopause.

Each woman was given a memory test before, during and after

treatment, when their ovaries were once again producing oestrogen.

Average scores were similar before and after treatment, but dipped by

about 10% while the women's ovaries were shut down.

The researchers also recorded reduced levels of activity in an area

of the brain called the pre-frontal cortex during treatment, which is

linked to learning and memory.

Lead researcher Dr Michael Craig said evidence was growing that sex

hormones, such as oestrogen, did have a direct effect on the brain.

He said: "There may be a critical window of time around the menopause

when HRT may have a beneficial effect in protecting against

Alzheimer's dementia.

However, Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research

Trust, said: "This is not conclusive evidence and women are not

advised to start HRT specifically to protect against dementia since

it can have side-effects and possibly increase the risk of stroke.&quot;

Certain forms of HRT have been linked to an increased risk of cancer

and heart disease, although once again the evidence is not clear cut.

__________________________________________________________
How well do you know your celebrity gossip?
http://originals.msn.com/thebigdebate?ocid=T002MSN03N0707A

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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