Early Postmenopausal Transdermal 17β-Estradiol Therapy and Amyloid-β Deposition

Kejal Kantarci, Val J. Lowe, Timothy G. Lesnick, Nirubol Tosakulwong, Kent R. Bailey, Julie A. Fields, Lynne T. Shuster, Samantha M. Zuk, Matthew L. Senjem, Michelle M. Mielke, Carey Gleason, Clifford R. Jack, Walter A. Rocca, Virginia M. Miller, Mary Tierney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: It remains controversial whether hormone therapy in recently postmenopausal women modifies the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Objective: To investigate the effects of hormone therapy on amyloid-β deposition in recently postmenopausal women. Methods: Participants within 5-36 months past menopause in the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study, a randomized, double blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial, were randomized to: 1) 0.45mg/day oral conjugated equine estrogens (CEE); 2) 50μg/day transdermal 17β-estradiol; or 3) placebo pills and patch for four years. Oral progesterone (200mg/day) was given to active treatment groups for 12 days each month. 11C Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) PET imaging was performed in 68 of the 118 participants at Mayo Clinic approximately seven years post randomization and three years after stopping randomized treatment. PiB Standard unit value ratio (SUVR) was calculated. Results: Women (age=52-65) randomized to transdermal 17β-estradiol (n=21) had lower PiB SUVR compared to placebo (n=30) after adjusting for age [odds ratio (95 CI)=0.31(0.11-0.83)]. In the APOE ϵ4 carriers, transdermal 17β-estradiol treated women (n=10) had lower PiB SUVR compared to either placebo (n=5) [odds ratio (95 CI)=0.04(0.004-0.44)], or the oral CEE treated group (n=3) [odds ratio (95 CI)=0.01(0.0006-0.23)] after adjusting for age. Hormone therapy was not associated with PiB SUVR in the APOE ϵ4 non-carriers. Conclusion: In this pilot study, transdermal 17β-estradiol therapy in recently postmenopausal women was associated with a reduced amyloid-β deposition, particularly in APOE ϵ4 carriers. This finding may have important implications for the prevention of AD in postmenopausal women, and needs to be confirmed in a larger sample.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)547-556
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Alzheimer's Disease
Volume53
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Amyloid-β
  • Cognitive function
  • Estrogen
  • Hormone therapy
  • Menopause
  • PET
  • Prevention

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Clinical Psychology

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