Last month at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Chicago, studies were presented in relation to lower hormone levels contributing to the possible risk of dementia.
One study, “Women’s Reproductive History and Dementia Risk”, which looked at 15,000 women in California, showed that women were less likely to develop dementia later in life if they started menstruating earlier and went through menopause later. Menopause at age 45 or younger increased risk by 28%. Also, the risk of Alzheimer’s for women who had 3 or more children was 12% lower than those women who had one child.
One presenter remarked that the intense fluctuations of hormones related to menopause may be associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s.
While it’s not clear if estrogen replacement protects against dementia after menopause, there is supportive evidence that if given to women in their early 50’s, estrogen and progesterone prevent the hormonal fluctuations, hot flashes, and sleep disturbance that could be associated with dementia. The benefits of giving hormones after 65 are murky, in that there may be an increased risk of dementia, heart disease, and breast cancer. In this age group, it is recommended to look at each case individually, depending on other medical conditions, and to use the lowest possible dose with a safer delivery system, like transdermal estrogen and natural micronized progesterone. Some conditions that could benefit from hormone replacement later in life include multiple sclerosis, chronic pain syndromes, osteoporosis, or the continuation of severe hot flashes.
A new study, published recently in the Journal of Internal Medicine, showed that probiotic supplementation may have a positive affect on bone health in humans. The double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study involved 90 women aged between 75 to 80 years old and had low bone mineral density (BMD). They were randomized to receive daily oral supplementation (1010 colony‐forming units of L. reuteri 6475) or placebo over a 12 month period. The results of the study showed that daily supplementation reduced bone loss in older women with low bone density. While more studies are necessary to back up these results, this study introduces new possibilities for those who are looking for non-pharmacological approaches to treating osteoporosis in the aging population.
Q: Do women who have never had children experience incontinence with or after menopause? There are estrogen receptors on muscles, including the bladder, so if a woman never had a child – and therefore never stretched out her pelvic floor – would she still have incontinence because she has so little estrogen?
A: Thank you for your great question. Women who never have given birth, can and do experience urinary incontinence peri or post-menopause. It is true that over time, our bodies become depleted of estrogen. However, low estrogen is not the only factor contributing to incontinence.
Good hormonal health is a balance of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The onset of urinary incontinence can be attributed to an accumulation of many issues: A history of urinary tract infections, obesity, constipation, hormonal imbalance, high-stress lifestyle, overactive abdominals, sedentary lifestyle, abdominal, pelvic, low back, hip surgical procedures, certain medications, gradual pelvic floor weakness. This list is not complete, but you get the picture. The reasons for incontinence are multiple; a “stretched-out” pelvic floor or not, is only one consideration.
Hormone Levels and Risk of Alzheimer’s
/in Hormone Health, News, Women's Health/by Lisa Lilienfield, MDLast month at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Chicago, studies were presented in relation to lower hormone levels contributing to the possible risk of dementia.
One study, “Women’s Reproductive History and Dementia Risk”, which looked at 15,000 women in California, showed that women were less likely to develop dementia later in life if they started menstruating earlier and went through menopause later. Menopause at age 45 or younger increased risk by 28%. Also, the risk of Alzheimer’s for women who had 3 or more children was 12% lower than those women who had one child.
Another study out of the U.K., Women’s Pregnancy History May Influence Alzheimer’s Risk through Alterations in Immune Function, of 133 elderly women, supported these findings. They looked at the number of months of pregnancy in their lives and found the higher the number, the lower the rate of Alzheimer’s.
One presenter remarked that the intense fluctuations of hormones related to menopause may be associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s.
While it’s not clear if estrogen replacement protects against dementia after menopause, there is supportive evidence that if given to women in their early 50’s, estrogen and progesterone prevent the hormonal fluctuations, hot flashes, and sleep disturbance that could be associated with dementia. The benefits of giving hormones after 65 are murky, in that there may be an increased risk of dementia, heart disease, and breast cancer. In this age group, it is recommended to look at each case individually, depending on other medical conditions, and to use the lowest possible dose with a safer delivery system, like transdermal estrogen and natural micronized progesterone. Some conditions that could benefit from hormone replacement later in life include multiple sclerosis, chronic pain syndromes, osteoporosis, or the continuation of severe hot flashes.
New study shows that probiotics may improve bone health.
/in Bone Health, Conditions/by Kaplan CenterA new study, published recently in the Journal of Internal Medicine, showed that probiotic supplementation may have a positive affect on bone health in humans. The double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study involved 90 women aged between 75 to 80 years old and had low bone mineral density (BMD). They were randomized to receive daily oral supplementation (1010 colony‐forming units of L. reuteri 6475) or placebo over a 12 month period. The results of the study showed that daily supplementation reduced bone loss in older women with low bone density. While more studies are necessary to back up these results, this study introduces new possibilities for those who are looking for non-pharmacological approaches to treating osteoporosis in the aging population.
To read the abstract, click here.
Q&A: Do women who have never had children experience incontinence with or after menopause?
/in Conditions/by Jeanne Scheele, PTQ: Do women who have never had children experience incontinence with or after menopause? There are estrogen receptors on muscles, including the bladder, so if a woman never had a child – and therefore never stretched out her pelvic floor – would she still have incontinence because she has so little estrogen?
A: Thank you for your great question. Women who never have given birth, can and do experience urinary incontinence peri or post-menopause. It is true that over time, our bodies become depleted of estrogen. However, low estrogen is not the only factor contributing to incontinence.
Good hormonal health is a balance of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The onset of urinary incontinence can be attributed to an accumulation of many issues: A history of urinary tract infections, obesity, constipation, hormonal imbalance, high-stress lifestyle, overactive abdominals, sedentary lifestyle, abdominal, pelvic, low back, hip surgical procedures, certain medications, gradual pelvic floor weakness. This list is not complete, but you get the picture. The reasons for incontinence are multiple; a “stretched-out” pelvic floor or not, is only one consideration.
Thanks!
Jeanne Scheele, PT, PRPC
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