Victor W. Henderson

Estrogen and neural plasticity.

Foy MR, Henderson VW, Berger TW, Thompson RF. Curr Direct Psychol Sci. 2000; 9 (5): 148-152

Converging clinical evidence suggests that postmenopausal estrogen therapy in women is associated with improved cognition and a reduced incidence of Alzheimers disease. In experimental work, investigators have found estrogen to promote changes in synaptic plasticity in the nervous system. In this article, we review both the clinical and experimental literature, and consider the mechanisms of action of estrogen on neurons and synaptic plasticity, and how they might protect against the cognitive impairments of old age.