Hrt linked to dementia

[Ninaguineapig]

I thought it was supposed to prevent it.

amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/06/28/health/hrt-dementia-risk-wellness/index.html

You're conflating a lot of different things @lemonchiffonpie and it's not really adding up to much. You've grabbed one paper- now 15 years out of date - which is one piece of research by some researchers.

It's well known that the genetic (hereditary) link to cancer is about 5-10%.

It's been known in the UK for some time that 40% of cancers are lifestyle related. Nothing new there.

But all cancers start with a single cell misfunctioning. This is a natural physiological event. It might be promoted by external factors but the overall biggest risk is age.

We've moved a long way from the original post.

maybe this discussion on disease and ageing needs another thread.

I guess that it is true enough to say that aging itself is a lifestyle factor and it IS a known cause of disease. (A lot of which can be prevented and/or minimised with supplemental oestrogen. Just saying…)

There it is again, the unscientific idea peddled by menopause marketing that aging is a lifestyle factor that can be prevented by taking HRT.

It’s been circulating with increasing frequency and the vulnerable are believing it.

But all cancers start with a single cell misfunctioning. This is a natural physiological event

No, it’s not. Cancer is a disease.
The emergence of tumour cells is not a natural physiological event or process, it is a pathological process.

The age of the paper is immaterial because these are basic definitions and concepts in biology that have been around for donkeys years.

Well, back to the original post, which was regarding dementia. It is now believed that lifestyle factors are responsible for around 40% of dementia cases.

Overall, a growing body of evidence supports the nine potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia modelled by the 2017 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care: less education, hypertension, hearing impairment, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, and low social contact.

We now add three more risk factors for dementia with newer, convincing evidence. These factors are excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury, and air pollution. We have completed new reviews and meta-analyses and incorporated these into an updated 12 risk factor life-course model of dementia prevention. Together the 12 modifiable risk factors account for around 40% of worldwide dementias, which consequently could theoretically be prevented or delayed.

Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission - The Lancet

I don't see any mention of lower levels of estrogen, or lack of HRT, though.

Thank you. I literally just grabbed the first paper that appeared on google. Most of what I read is in books, and there is a universality in the agreement of the prevalence of lifestyle factors in most of what were once thought to be inevitable diseases of ageing. Those dubbed "natural" in an earlier post...

For the lay readers. A basic biology chart on the pathogenesis and pathological process of cancer.

Putting into perspective:

Not the point but I was very scared I was getting dementia when it turned out it was brain fog for me . Hrt has been amazing for me

Niki Woods. Personal trainer, nutritionist and coach. Her perspective is as valid as anyone else’s on here, but of no more weight. Just another opinion.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8dsx9s

"You're not making sense now. Men aren't designed to have high levels of estrogen, or progesterone, they have completely different hormonal systems, and brains. Can you predict what will happen to any given woman's estrogen and progesterone receptors in the brain during and after menopause? Estrogen receptors in the central nervous system and their implication for dopamine-dependent cognition in females - PMC (nih.gov) Estrogen receptors α, β and GPER in the CNS and trigeminal system - molecular and functional aspects | The Journal of Headache and Pain | Full Text (biomedcentral.com) I doubt it.

The brain not being a sex organ is an odd way to put it. And actually any sex therapist will tell you otherwise. All hormones including sex hormones affect the brain, and and all other hormones and neurotransmitters. We're very, very far from understanding those relationships but there's no question they exist. Estrogen and progesterone even affect the gut microbiome for god's sake! Just google it. And although the brain is not a digestive organ, I hope most people are aware by now that the gut and brain are very much connected.

You have no idea what the female brain relies on for cognitive function or memories. I know you don't because no one does and if we did dementia would be cured already. Obviously women with zero estrogen have cognitive function and memories. This is about as far from the point as you can get though.

The onset of Alzheimers and menopause don't happen almost concurrently. And the hypothesis that they're causally related is quite fringe still. So most people's 'primate brains' are making no such connection."

Excellent, informative post! Thank you.

And the thread as a whole, and other posters, a lot of useful information.

The brain not being a sex organ is an odd way to put it. And actually any sex therapist will tell you otherwise.

The brain is not a sex organ. That is a conceptual idea, not factual.

A sex organ is a reproductive organ, an organ of reproduction. In human males, testes, penis, and prostrate gland; in human females the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, vagina, and vulva.

Just because an organ or a blood vessel is affected by a hormone, it doesn't mean it is suddenly a "sex organ".

It's a sexed organ.

I didn't read it as her meaning it was an actual sex organ?

Sorry, I didn't mean to quote a whole post

Yep. Several on this thread are under the illusion that the brain is a sex organ. Here's another example:

I can't believe there are still women in 2023, on a menopause forum of all places, who believe our brains are the same as men's, that the brain is not a sex organ etc.

From the title of this thread onwards " HRT linked to Dementia " this thread is giving off strangely anti vax vibes.

OP has never taken hormones, has 'a gut feeling' against them, posting an inconclusive article and titling the thread like that.

And HRT is optional!

@Ninaguineapig

I doubt I'll ever have to time to catch up on this thread properly now @sunglassesonthetable, but a quick scan and yes, I can see why you would say that.

It's a really odd thread: a misconception wrapped inside a series of misunderstandings inside an argument (or three). Shame really - there are some very good pieces of info in it as well.

I pointed this out as well. But posters are short on education in human biology.

How is it anti-vax-like to mention that there has been a study suggesting HRT is not (as is often promoted on this board) actually preventive for dementia, but possibly causative of dementia? Perhaps it is not a very good study, perhaps the reportage has taken it out of context, but nevertheless it is being reported in mainstream media - not exactly a haven for antivaxxers.

Menopause hormone pills associated with dementia, causation unclear | Reuters

Shame really - there are some very good pieces of info in it as well

Yes agree. I've taken some good pieces of info from it.

No the brain is not a sexed organ any more than heart, liver, lungs are.

*How is it anti-vax-like to mention that there has been a study suggesting HRT is not (as is often promoted on this board) actually preventive for dementia, but possibly causative of dementia? Perhaps it is not a very good study, perhaps the reportage has taken it out of context, but nevertheless it is being reported in mainstream media - not exactly a haven for antivaxxers.

Menopause hormone pills associated* with

It's excellent to highlight and discuss this information.

I'm noting the way it's been done.

Well, the OP is not wrong making this comment about this board:

It's depressing to read Menopause section because only thing discussed is hrt. The labels of bottles etc. if you want to go through menopause without hrt MN menopause is not for you.

🤷‍♀️

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