Study Reveals Increased Alzheimer’s Risk in Women Post-Ovarian Removal
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Toronto, Dec 5 (NationPress) Women who have undergone the surgical removal of both ovaries prior to the age of 50 and possess a variant of the apolipoprotein gene are at a significantly elevated risk for late-life Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study released on Thursday.
The research, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease by a team from the University of Toronto in partnership with the University of Alberta, identified that the presence of the APOE4 allele places these women at an increased risk for Alzheimer’s, while hormone therapy may help reduce this risk.
By the year 2050, it is estimated that Alzheimer’s disease will impact 12.7 million individuals aged 65 and older, with women accounting for approximately two-thirds of this population.
The reasons behind the higher prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in women compared to men remain unclear; however, factors such as ovary removal surgery (oophorectomy) could play a significant role.
The researchers examined a cohort of 34,603 women from a vast dataset known as the UK Biobank and discovered that those who had both ovaries removed around the age of 43 had a fourfold increase in the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s compared to women who experienced natural menopause at an average age of 54.
“A key outcome of our research was the discovery that the loss of the naturally occurring hormone, estradiol, due to the surgical removal of both ovaries might interact with the APOE4 allele, thereby further escalating Alzheimer’s disease risk. This places women who undergo early bilateral oophorectomy and possess the APOE4 allele in a state of double jeopardy,” stated Dr. Gillian Einstein from the University of Toronto.
While the APOE4 variant is a recognized risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease in the general population, it poses an even greater risk for women.
Interestingly, the study also found a modest correlation between body mass index (BMI) and Alzheimer’s disease risk, specifically in women who had undergone early ovarian removal.
Each additional unit of BMI was connected to a 7 percent reduction in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
“The association of a higher BMI with a decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease in women who have had oophorectomy may be attributed to the fact that adipose tissue generates estrone (one of the three endogenous estrogens), which, in the absence of estradiol following oophorectomy, might assist in preserving cognitive function during early middle age,” explained Dr. Noelia Calvo from the University of Toronto.
This finding underscores the significance of estrogen-based therapies in mitigating Alzheimer’s disease risk among women who have had their ovaries removed before the age of 50.
