SEPT. 1, 2000

Health Happenings
Low Estrogen Levels May Contribute to Mental Decline

Researchers at the University of California have discovered that high levels of estrogen may prevent mental decline in elderly women. The tests involved 425 women over the age of 65. The women were tested on mental status between 1986 and 1988, then retested six years later.

According to the study, 16% of women who exhibited low levels of estrogen showed cognitive impairment over the six years, compared to only 5% of women with higher levels of the hormone.

Previous studies do not all agree on this result. Some have revealed no relation between estrogen levels and cognitive function, while others have suggested that estrogen replacement therapy can help elderly women fend off mental decline. Estrogen replacement therapy is already commonly used to prevent other ailments, such as breast cancer, brittle bones, and heart disease.