Hormone Replacement Therapy
Can BHRT Prevent Parkinson’s Disease?
A neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of neurons and similar cells in the spinal cord and/or brain, Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive condition leading to varying degrees of disability and dysfunction. Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Alzheimer’s disease are examples of neurodegenerative disorders affecting dopaminergic (dopamine-producing) cells in the brain.1
Symptoms of PD often develop slowly, taking several years or a decade to cause debilitation. Involuntary shaking/tremors of the legs, arms, hands, and jaw, slowed movement (bradykinesia), limb stiffness/rigidty and balance/gait difficulties are classic signs of Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, people with PD frequently experience “nonmotor” symptoms such as depression, apathy, irritability, loss of smell, and persistent sadness.2
Medications to increase dopamine levels in the brain are prescribed to help control PD symptoms. The most effective PD drug is Levodopa, a natural chemical that is converted into dopamine in the brain. Dopamine agonists like pramipexole aren’t converted to dopamine but imitate the moderating effects dopamine has on movement. these medications and you behave in a way that’s out of character for you, talk to your doctor.
What is the Connection Between Estrogen and Parkinson’s Disease?
Results from ongoing studies suggest that estrogen and progesterone may provide protection within the brain’s nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway impacted by PD and loss of dopaminergic cells. Numerous animal studies have shown that estrogen influences the production, metabolism and release of dopamine by enhancing the ability of dopamine receptors to function normally. In studies involving menopausal women with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease symptoms, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) seemed to alleviate symptom severity and may delay progression of PD.3
Another study investigating postmenopausal women undergoing HRT before they were diagnosed with Parkinson’s resulted in a positive correlation between reduced symptom severity and estrogen replacement who were not taking Levodopa (L-dopa). Researchers concluded that their study indicates estrogen replacement therapy could benefit menopausal women who go on to develop early signs of PD.4
Parkinson’s, BHRT and Dementia
Since Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease implicating loss of cells in the brain, people with PD have an increased risk for developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. A study investigating the effects of hormone replacement therapy on 87 women diagnosed with PD without dementia and 80 women with PD with dementia found that estrogen replacement protected against development of dementia.5
During perimenopause, a woman’s estrogen levels start to decline as estrogen production by the ovaries dwindles. Brain imaging scans of women show that women who use bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to restore estrogen levels throughout menopause have larger hippocampi than women who do not undergo BHRT. The hippocampus is responsible for retaining long-term and short-term memories and is one of the brains structured impacted by dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Testosterone and Parkinson’s Disease
It has been known for some time that testosterone therapy improves non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in men. But now, a recent study found that testosterone replacement therapy in men with PD significantly reduced severity of fine motor control and resting tremors. Researchers evaluated motor symptom improvement by assessing subjects’ handwriting ability and having subjects participating in this study complete a standardized Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale survey. In addition to improving their motor symptoms, subjects reported testosterone therapy also enhanced their overall sense of health and well-being.6
If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and are suffering unpleasant side effects of your medication, consider starting bioidentical hormone therapy to help reduce symptoms without drugs. In addition, men and women with a family history of Parkinson’s may be at risk for developing the disease. BHRT may help decrease your risk of PD. Call Renew Health & Wellness today to learn more about the many physical and psychological benefits of BHRT.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK6271/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353802002000147
- https://n.neurology.org/content/52/7/1417
- https://n.neurology.org/content/50/4/1141.short
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967586805003875
A neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of neurons and similar cells in the spinal cord and/or brain, Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive condition leading to varying degrees of disability and dysfunction. Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s disease are examples of neurodegenerative disorders affecting dopaminergic (dopamine-producing) cells in the brain.1
Symptoms of PD often develop slowly, taking several years or a decade to cause debilitation. Involuntary shaking/tremors of the legs, arms, hands and jaw, slowed movement (bradykinesia), limb stiffness/rigidty and balance/gait difficulties are classic signs of Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, people with PD frequently experience “nonmotor” symptoms such as depression, apathy, irritability, loss of smell and persistent sadness.2
Medications to increase dopamine levels in the brain are prescribed to help control PD symptoms. The most effective PD drug is Levodopa, a natural chemical that is converted into dopamine in the brain. Dopamine agonists like pramipexole aren’t converted to dopamine but imitate the moderating effects dopamine has on movement. ese medications and you behave in a way that’s out of character for you, talk to your doctor.
What is the Connection Between Estrogen and Parkinson’s Disease?
Results from ongoing studies suggest that estrogen and progesterone may provide protection within the brain’s nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway impacted by PD and loss of dopaminergic cells. Numerous animal studies have shown that estrogen influences the production, metabolism and release of dopamine by enhancing the ability of dopamine receptors to function normally. In studies involving menopausal women with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease symptoms, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) seemed to alleviate symptom severity and may delay progression of PD.3
Another study investigating postmenopausal women undergoing HRT before they were diagnosed with Parkinson’s resulted in a positive correlation between reduced symptom severity and estrogen replacement who were not taking Levodopa (L-dopa). Researchers concluded that their study indicates estrogen replacement therapy could benefit menopausal women who go on to develop early signs of PD.4
Parkinson’s, BHRT and Dementia
Since Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease implicating loss of cells in the brain, people with PD have an increased risk for developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. A study investigating the effects of hormone replacement therapy on 87 women diagnosed with PD without dementia and 80 women with PD with dementia found that estrogen replacement protected against development of dementia.5
During perimenopause, a woman’s estrogen levels starts to decline as estrogen production by the ovaries dwindles. Brain imaging scans of women show that women who use bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to restore estrogen levels throughout menopause have larger hippocampi than women who do not undergo BHRT. The hippocampus is responsible for retaining long-term and short-term memories and is one of the brains structured impacted by dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Testosterone and Parkinson’s Disease
It has been known for some time that testosterone therapy improves non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in men. But now, a recent study found that testosterone replacement therapy in men with PD significantly reduced severity of fine motor control and resting tremors. Researchers evaluated motor symptom improvement by assessing subjects’ handwriting ability and having subjects participating in this study complete a standardized Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale survey. In addition to improving their motor symptoms, subjects reported testosterone therapy also enhanced their overall sense of health and well-being.6
If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and are suffering unpleasant side effects of your medication, consider starting bioidentical hormone therapy to help reduce symptoms without drugs. In addition, men and women with a family history of Parkinson’s may be at risk for developing the disease. BHRT may help decrease your risk of PD. Call Renew Health & Wellness today to learn more about the many physical and psychological benefits of BHRT.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK6271/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353802002000147
- https://n.neurology.org/content/52/7/1417
- https://n.neurology.org/content/50/4/1141.short
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967586805003875
