Posted on November 6, 2001 at 10:00 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) researchers are beginning a three-year study to determine if estrogen can prevent memory loss in post-menopausal women. Memory loss during aging is often associated with dementia such as Alzheimer's disease.

“Earlier research has suggested that estrogen may play a role in improving brain function and could help improve memory in older women,” says Dr. Edward Zamrini, assistant professor of neurology and a clinician-scientist at the UAB Memory Disorders Clinic. “We hope research such as this can help us to understand and prevent memory loss and other cognitive problems in older women, which are often a precursor of Alzheimer’s disease.”

UAB plans to enroll 50 women in the Women’s Memory Loss Prevention study. Women 65 years of age and older are eligible if they have a family history of Alzheimer’s, have not taken estrogen or hormone replacement therapy in the past year and have no history of breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer. Women interested in participating should call (205) 975-7272 locally or toll-free (877) 975-7272.

Eligible women will receive a physical and neurological examination as well as tests to measure memory and other cognitive functions. Those participating in the trial will receive either estrogen or placebo for up to three years.

More than four million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and women are more likely than men to develop the disease. People with a family history of Alzheimer’s are also at increased risk.

The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health.