Hormone Therapy Linked To
Countering
Brain Shrinkage
Menopausal
T
wo new studies report that hormone therapy—a still common-
depression
ly prescribed form of postmenopausal treatment—may slightly
accelerate the loss of brain tissue in women 65 and older, beyond
naturally
what normally occurs with aging. “This is not what we expected
to find,” reported one of the researchers.
The investigating scientists, using MRI scans to look for
increased volumes of brain lesions among women who had
taken hormone therapy, discovered their brain volume had shrunk in two critical
areas: the frontal lobe and the hippocampus. Both of these areas are involved in
thinking and memory skills. Loss of volume in the hippocampus is also a risk fac-
tor for dementia. More than 1,400 women ages 71 to 89 participated in the study.
Source: Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, 2009
Friendship
Among women
psychological distress and
depression are common
benefits Health
symptoms experienced by
many premenopausal and
A
landmark University of California, Los An-
geles study now suggests that women have
menopausal women. now a
a larger behavioral repertoire than men in the
new study, published in The
face of stress. “It seems that the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress
responses in a woman; it buffers the “fight or flight” response and encourages her
American Journal of Clini-
to tend children and gather with other women, instead,” reports Laurel Cousino
cal Nutrition, indicates that
Klein, Ph.D., who co-authored the study. “When she actually engages in this tend-
consuming omega-3 fatty
ing or befriending, [such] studies suggest that more oxytocin is released, which
further counters stress and produces a calming effect.”
acids may offer natural
Klein explains that this calming effect does not occur in men because tes-
relief.
tosterone, which men produce in high levels when they’re under stress, seems to
At the end of the re-
reduce the effects of oxytocin. “Estrogen,” she says, “seems to enhance it.” The
phenomenon has been missed in the past because 90 percent of stress research
searchers’ 8-week study
has been done with men.
period of women ages 40
Ruthellen Josselson, Ph.D., who has authored a book on female friendships,
to 55, those who ingested
comments: “Every time we get overly busy with work and family, the first thing
we do is let go of friendships with other women. That’s really a mistake, because
one gram of omega-3 in
women are such a source of strength to each other.”
capsule form daily, reported
considerable reduction
of hot flashes and fewer
plants help heal
symptoms of psychologi-
A recent study published in HortTechnology shows that
cal stress and depression
flowers, especially potted plants, in hospital rooms, can
than those who had taken
speed the recovery of patients who have undergone
a sunflower oil supplement.
surgery. data took into account the length of hospitaliza-
tion, use of drugs for pain control and the patient’s ratings of
good to know, especially for
pain, fatigue and anxiety—all of which were reduced when the
women already consuming
patient’s room was accented with natural greenery.
omega-3s for heart health.
~ American Society for Horticultural Science, 2008
Source: Université Laval, 2009
May 2009 17
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