Ovary Removal Could Greatly Raise Some Womens Odds for Alzheimers [Video]

Key Takeaways

Women who must undergo removal of their ovaries at a relatively young age may be at higher odds for Alzheimer’s diseaseThis was especially true for women carrying APOE4, the ‘Alzheimer’s gene’Taking hormone replacement therapy may reduce much of the dementia risk linked to ovary removal

MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Women who have had their ovaries removed at a young age and also carry a gene predisposing them to Alzheimer’s disease may face a much higher odds of developing the brain illness, a new study finds.

However, the Canadian researchers stressed that any excess risk for dementia among these women can be lessened with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

That finding “highlights the importance of estrogen-based therapies in decreasing Alzheimer’s disease risk for women who have had their ovaries surgically removed before the age of 50,” said study co-author Dr. Esme Fuller-Thomson. She’s a professor of social work at the University …