Menopause Hormone Linked to Alzheimer’s Risk in Women

News Desk

Beijing: An international research team has identified a possible link between rising levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) during menopause and the increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease among older women, opening a new direction for potential treatments.

The study suggests that FSH, a hormone involved in reproductive functions, may contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s by triggering changes in the brain associated with memory loss and cognitive decline.

Researchers from China and the United States investigated why Alzheimer’s disease affects women at a higher rate than men, with statistics showing that female patients account for nearly twice as many cases as male patients.

Scientists have traditionally focused on the role of beta-amyloid plaques and abnormal tau protein buildup in the brain as major drivers of Alzheimer’s disease. However, the researchers explored whether hormonal changes after menopause could also influence disease progression.

Their investigation identified FSH as a possible factor after finding that increased levels of the hormone may activate a brain pathway known as C/EBP/AEP, which is linked to Alzheimer’s-related changes.

The researchers noted that women experience a sharp increase in FSH levels during menopause, with concentrations rising more than tenfold compared with earlier years. They suggested that elevated FSH may interact with receptors on brain cells, contributing to harmful changes in beta-amyloid and tau proteins.

To test their findings, scientists conducted experiments on mice designed to mimic conditions associated with menopause. Blocking FSH activity, removing FSH receptors from neurons, or disrupting the related brain pathway improved cognitive function and reduced Alzheimer’s-related changes in the animals.

The study also found that introducing FSH into laboratory mice accelerated Alzheimer’s-like symptoms, further supporting the hormone’s possible role in disease development.

Published in the journal Nature, the research has prompted further investigation into FSH-targeted therapies. Scientists are now conducting preclinical studies using FSH antibodies as a possible treatment approach.

Researchers also plan to examine the connection between FSH and the Alzheimer’s risk gene ApoE4 to better understand why some women may be more vulnerable to the disease.