Removal of ovaries increases dementia risk

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Ovariectomy could increase the likelihood that a woman develops dementia later in life.
The female hormone estrogen may have a role in protecting the brain from dementia. Now researchers at the Mayo Clinic reveal that removal of the ovaries, especially at a young age, can increase the risk of dementia.

They studied 1,209 women who had had both ovaries removed and 1,302 who had had only one removed from 1950 to 1987. These women were compared with a group who did not have ovary removal, following them over time to see who developed dementia or cognitive impairment.

The findings suggested an increased risk of dementia with ovary removal. The effect was especially marked if both ovaries were removed before age 46 or one ovary before the age of 38. Although women are given estrogen replacement after ovary removal, perhaps it is not given for long enough to protect the brain.

Alternatively, a woman’s genetic makeup may predispose her towards conditions that necessitate ovary removal. Maybe these same gene variants also make her susceptible to dementia? The increased risk of dementia should be discussed whenever elective ovarian removal is being contemplated. As ever, the right decision involves a careful consideration of the risks and benefits involved.

Source
American Academy of Neurology meeting 5th April 2006

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