Estrogen treatment affects brain functioning after menopause

The Neuromodulatory Effects of Sex Hormones on Functional Cerebral Asymmetries and Cognitive Control

Abstract. Nearly 20 years ago, Hausmann and Güntürkün (2000a, 2000b) published a review article in the Journal of Neuropsychology/Zeitschrift für Neuropsychologie on the influences of sex hormones on functional cerebral asymmetries (FCAs). They further presented a neuroendocrinological model (Hausmann & Güntürkün, 2000c) that could potentially explain how sex hormones modulate FCAs. Their model proposed that high levels of progesterone reduce the synaptic efficiency of cortico-cortical transmission, leading to a reduction of FCAs. However, empirical data testing their hypothesis directly were missing. Using various approaches, we have now gathered behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging data that partly support the original idea, while also pointing toward estradiol-modulating FCAs. The current review provides an update on this fascinating topic and briefly explores clinical applications.

Estrogen and the prefrontal cortex: towards a new understanding of estrogen's effects on executive functions in the menopause transition

Midlife decline in cognition, specifically in areas of executive functioning, is a frequent concern for which menopausal women seek clinical intervention. The dependence of executive processes on prefrontal cortex function suggests estrogen effects on this brain region may be key in identifying the sources of this decline. Recent evidence from rodent, nonhuman primate, and human subject studies indicates the importance of considering interactions of estrogen with neurotransmitter systems, stress, genotype, and individual life events when determining the cognitive effects of menopause and estrogen therapy.