Abstract
Over the last decades estrogen has been recognized to be involved in normal brain function due to its neurothrophic and neuroprotective effects. Estrogen is intimately associated with neuronal survival, mitochondrial function, neuroinflammation and cognition through genomic as well as non-genomic pathways. It is also known that the neuroprotective actions mediated by estrogens are interlinked with the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling pathway. This review is mainly devoted to explore the physiological and pathophysiological effects of estrogen and its signaling pathways in the brain. The molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are also debated. Finally, we discuss the potential neuroprotection afforded by estrogens in Alzheimers disease pathophysiology focusing in the “window of opportunity” for the initiation of estrogen therapy as a critical factor in the fight against neurodegeneration.
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, estrogen, IGF-1, mitochondria, neuroinflammation, neuroprotection
Current Aging Science
Title: Effects of Estrogen in the Brain: Is it a Neuroprotective Agent in Alzheimers Disease?
Volume: 3 Issue: 2
Author(s): Sonia C. Correia, Renato X. Santos, Susana Cardoso, Cristina Carvalho, Maria S. Santos, Catarina R. Oliveira and Paula I. Moreira
Affiliation:
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, estrogen, IGF-1, mitochondria, neuroinflammation, neuroprotection
Abstract: Over the last decades estrogen has been recognized to be involved in normal brain function due to its neurothrophic and neuroprotective effects. Estrogen is intimately associated with neuronal survival, mitochondrial function, neuroinflammation and cognition through genomic as well as non-genomic pathways. It is also known that the neuroprotective actions mediated by estrogens are interlinked with the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) signaling pathway. This review is mainly devoted to explore the physiological and pathophysiological effects of estrogen and its signaling pathways in the brain. The molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are also debated. Finally, we discuss the potential neuroprotection afforded by estrogens in Alzheimers disease pathophysiology focusing in the “window of opportunity” for the initiation of estrogen therapy as a critical factor in the fight against neurodegeneration.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
C. Correia Sonia, X. Santos Renato, Cardoso Susana, Carvalho Cristina, S. Santos Maria, R. Oliveira Catarina and I. Moreira Paula, Effects of Estrogen in the Brain: Is it a Neuroprotective Agent in Alzheimers Disease?, Current Aging Science 2010; 3 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874609811003020113
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874609811003020113 |
Print ISSN 1874-6098 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1874-6128 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Epigenetics in Cystic Fibrosis: Epigenetic Targeting of a Genetic Disease
Current Drug Targets Pharmacological Approaches of Neurofibrillary Degeneration
Current Alzheimer Research PAX6 expression may be protective against dopaminergic cell loss in Parkinson’s disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Transferrin and the Transferrin Receptor: Of Magic Bullets and Other Concerns
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Evaluation of the Anticancer Activities of the Plant Alkaloids Sanguinarine and Chelerythrine in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cells
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Cancer Therapy: Targeting Mitochondria and other Sub-cellular Organelles
Current Pharmaceutical Design Therapeutic microRNA Delivery Strategies with Special Emphasis on Cancer Therapy and Tumorigenesis: Current Trends and Future Challenges
Current Drug Metabolism Spermine Metabolism and Anticancer Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets Neurochemistry Changes Associated with Mutations in Familial Parkinsons Disease
Current Medicinal Chemistry N-Methyl D-Aspartate (NMDA) Receptor Antagonists and Memantine Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Chemical Properties and Mechanisms Determining the Anti-Cancer Action of Garlic-Derived Organic Sulfur Compounds
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Role of Ascorbic Acid in Cardiovascular Performance During Acute Hemorrhage
Vascular Disease Prevention (Discontinued) Function of miRNA in Controlling Drug Resistance of Human Cancers
Current Drug Targets In Vitro and In Vivo Models of Multiple Sclerosis
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress as a Novel Therapeutic Target in Heart Diseases
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Neurodegenerative Diseases and Flavonoids: Special Reference to Kaempferol
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Familial Mutations and Post-translational Modifications of UCH-L1 in Parkinson's Disease and Neurodegenerative Disorders
Current Protein & Peptide Science A Filter Based Feature Selection Algorithm Using Null Space of Covariance Matrix for DNA Microarray Gene Expression Data
Current Bioinformatics Secretoneurin: A New Player in Angiogenesis and Chemotaxis Linking Nerves, Blood Vessels and the Immune System
Current Protein & Peptide Science Applications of Nanosystems to Anticancer Drug Therapy (Part II. Dendrimers, Micelles, Lipid-based Nanosystems)
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery