Estradiol and Brain Age

The ovarian hormone estradiol (E2) is suspected to have a neuroprotective effect on the brain. Further, it is associated with mental health and brain plasticity, function and connectivity. During the menstrual cycle, women experience fluctuation of E2. This is closely associate with neuroplasticity in regions with high estradiol receptor density, such as the hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, hypothalamus, or the striatum. In the current study we are interested on the effects of E2 on the brain age, indicated by the comparison between the chronological age and the predicted brain age. In a double-blind within-subject study design, naturally cycling females during their follicular menstrual cycle phase (when their endogenous ovarian hormone levels are low) were either administered estradiol valerate (E2) or a placebo (PLAC) to rapidly increase E2 levels independent of other cycling ovarian hormones. Structural brain scans were assessed.