Alzheimer's Disease Center
University of California, Davis
The Family Connection
Summer 1997
Estrogen and Alzheimer's
Disease
The UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center
in Martinez, in collaboration with 40 centers nationwide, is
recruiting women to participate in the study of estrogen in the
treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The study will examine the effects
of estrogen on the prevention and progression of Alzheimer's
disease.
More than 120 women are needed to participate in the 15 month project
to see whether estrogen affects memory and other mental abilities
such as the learning process. Estrogen may also have mood enhancing
effects and this improvement in mood may elevate memory and increase
the quality of life.
Volunteers must be at least 60 years old with a diagnosis of mild to
moderate Alzheimer's disease and have had a hysterectomy.
Participants will be followed closely and will attend clinic visits
at two, six, nine, 12 and 15 months. Clinic visits may include lab
tests, EKGs, brain scans, mammograms and pelvic exams.
"Currently evidence that relates to estrogen and Alzheimer's disease
has been epidemiological and little is understood about the
relationship," says study coordinator Robin Ketelle, R.N. "This
study specifically looks at the possible impact of estrogen on
Alzheimer's disease."
This is the first study of its kind in collaboration with the
Alzheimer's Disease Center Cooperative Study Unit, funded by the
National Institutes of Health, to study the effects of estrogen and
Alzheimer's disease. In the past, studies of Alzheimer's drug
treatments have been funded by drug companies and have looked at
estrogen in combination with other hormones.
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