2023-10-23 03:01:15
1 million people in France suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.
This disease, rare before the age of 65, is the result of degeneration of neuronal cells beginning in the hippocampus area and which then spreads to the entire brain.
The characteristic signs of Alzheimer’s disease are memory problems or difficulty performing daily tasks. These symptoms change over time as the disease develops.
Research has not yet made it possible to find a treatment to cure Alzheimer’s disease because its mechanisms of appearance are complex.
The risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease are multiple.
The main factor is age. Indeed, the older an individual gets, the more they are exposed to the risk of developing this form of dementia. As Inserm specifies, the incidence of the disease increases following age 65 and explodes following age 80.
As with other diseases, the environment in which we live may be associated with the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. A sedentary lifestyle is one of these factors, as are repeated cranial microtraumas (noted in particular among athletes), alcohol consumption or even people exposed to an untreated cardiovascular risk (diabetes, hypertension, etc.).
Alzheimer’s disease: women are more affected
Women are 50% more at risk of developing a form of dementia, according to the Foundation for Medical Research (FRM). According to Marina Carrère d’Encausse, doctor, journalist and sponsor of the FRM, Alzheimer’s disease affects women more because of poor management of the cardiovascular diseases on which they depend. As a reminder, this type of disease is one of the main risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
According to Dr. Maï Panchal, general and scientific director of Fondation Vaincre Alzheimer, this would be justified by the fact that women live longer than men and therefore older.
“Studies have shown that this observation must be modulated according to age, which is the most important risk factor for the disease. Between the ages of 65 and 80, the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is equivalent in men and women. On the other hand, from the age of 80, it affects more women than men,” she explains on the Foundation’s website.
Alzheimer’s disease: researchers wanted to know more regarding the involvement of sex hormones
In a study recently published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, researchers explain the link between sex hormones and the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
In an interview with Medical News Today, Dr. Vania Prado, professor and lead author of the study, explained that the researchers decided to examine the possible role of female sex hormones in the development of Alzheimer’s disease due to chemical changes in the brain that can affect and contribute to the amyloid pathology that is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.
We know why postmenopausal women are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease
The team of scientists’ attention turned to the female hormone estradiol, which is essential for the proper functioning of a woman’s reproductive system. This hormone plays a notable role in the maturation and release of eggs during the menstrual cycle.
Through various tests and image analyzes on a model of male and female mice and brain scans (examination allowing blood circulation in the brain to be seen) of older humans, researchers found that when estradiol was present, the relationship between acetylcholine (neurotransmitter) and toxic amyloid (peptide that can be harmful to the brain) was lost. But when the sex hormones were removed, the relationship was restored, potentially increasing Alzheimer’s pathology. This information is important since estradiol levels decrease in postmenopausal women.
Dr. Verna Porter, neurologist, also interviewed by Medical News Today, said: “ These results might also lead to the need to emphasize the importance of taking into account the hormonal state of the patient, including her menopausal stage and the role of estradiol, when assessing her risk of Alzheimer’s disease. »
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