Estrogen is a hormone found in the female reproductive system. It has been found to have many beneficial effects on brain cells. The majority of estrogen is produced by the ovaries.
Men also produce it by changing testosterone into estrogen.
Production of this hormone in men may account for the fact that AD is much less common in men than women. The onset of symptoms is delayed up to ten years in men also. The most commonly prescribed estrogen replacement drug is Premarin. When a woman reaches menopause, estrogen production is greatly reduced, placing a woman at risk for several serious health problems. An increased risk of developing Alzheimer's is one of those risks.