Introduction
Estrogen is a sex hormone that shows variation during the menstrual cycle and menopause. This hormone is essential for regulating sexual and reproductive health. Changes in hormone levels may affect memory and information processing. Low levels of estrogen may affect thinking.
What Is Estrogen?
Hormones are natural substances that are secreted from the glands. These hormones circulate in the body through the bloodstream. Estrogen is a sex hormone. The levels of estrogen may vary during the menstrual cycle and menopause. Apart from these, estrogen levels get lowered during cancer treatment, which blocks the estrogen effect on the cancer cells.
What Is Cognition?
The ability to remember and the way of processing information is called cognitive. Cognitive ability means how well an individual recognizes and concentrates. It also tells about how well an individual can do more than one task at a time.
Any change in memory, concentration, or how a person thinks is called cognitive change. After hormone therapy, there may be a change in the ability to think and remember. This type of condition is called mild cognitive impairment. It may also be called chemo brain or a general fogginess. It occurs not only after chemotherapy but may also be seen as a side effect of hormone therapy.
Specialized areas of the brain mediate many cognitive functions.
Causes for cognitive impairment among individuals with cancer include
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Cancer.
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Treatments of cancer.
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Low mood, anxiety, and stress.
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Aging.
These changes may be reduced after the therapy. If these changes persist, they may affect the quality of life.
What Is the Role of Estrogen in Cognition or Thinking?
Estrogen plays an important role in cognition. This hormone helps in remembering words, concentrating, and processing information quickly. Research has shown that during menopause, due to changes in hormone levels, memory and information processing are affected.
During some of the treatments, like chemotherapy and hormonal cancer therapy, the levels of estrogen hormones get lowered, which affects the ability to think. Along with this, it may affect memory and concentration.
During chemotherapy, the secretion of estrogen hormones may be lowered or may not be secreted at all. Because of this reason, when there is a variation in the levels, it affects memory, concentration, and thought processes. These changes may be temporary or permanent. This depends on age.
Hormone therapy can affect memory. Individuals under hormone therapy may find difficulty remembering the words. Researchers have found many estrogen receptors (ERs) in the brain. Hence, estrogen and ERs give a possible explanation for affecting cognition. Estrogen affects many neurotransmitters in the brain.
Estrogen increases the concentration of choline acetyltransferase, the enzyme for acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter has a role in memory. The levels of this neurotransmitter get reduced in Alzheimer’s disease.
Estrogen’s neurotrophic effect may help protect against the decline of cognition due to aging. It shows a neuroprotective effect via the modulation of molecules involved in apoptosis and through its action as an antioxidant. It also affects mood, fine motor control, and pain.
There are no qualitative differences in cognitive functioning between the two genders. There is a quantitative difference between the two genders. This difference in sex cognitive functioning is due to the exposure of the fetal brain to varying levels of sex hormones during prenatal life.
During the menstrual cycle, variations in the levels of estrogen affect cognitive function in women. During the post-menopausal stage, drastic variations in estrogen levels affected these women's cognitive functions.
What Are the Symptoms of Low Estrogen?
Symptoms are not seen in low estrogen conditions. If present, they may be similar to those of other conditions. Hence, it is difficult to diagnose this condition based on the symptoms alone.
When an individual approaches menopause, they show the following symptoms.
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Irregular periods.
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Hot flashes.
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Vaginal dryness.
Symptoms of low estrogen levels other than menopause include
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Absence or irregular periods.
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Fractures of bone due to osteoporosis.
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Fertility among males and females gets affected.
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Decreased sexual function among both genders.
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Erectile dysfunction among males.
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Heart disease.
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High cholesterol or high triglycerides may be seen.
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Urinary tract infections.
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Pain during intercourse.
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Mood changes.
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Weight gain due to slowdown of metabolism.
What Are the Causes of Low Estrogen Levels?
Apart from puberty, the menstrual cycle, and menopause, other health conditions may also cause this.
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Polycystic ovarian syndrome.
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Disorders related to thyroid.
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Pituitary gland dysfunction.
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After giving birth.
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During breastfeeding.
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Due to low weight.
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Turner syndrome.
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Chemotherapy.
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Primary ovarian insufficiency.
How to Diagnose Low Estrogen Levels?
The diagnosis may depend on the symptoms or age.
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A blood test is done to check for estrogen levels.
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If the individual is menstruating, a specific time may be given for a blood test.
When the cause is not clear, further tests may be done.
They include
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A physical examination.
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Further blood tests like thyroid function tests.
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Scanning of the ovaries.
What Are the Treatments for Low Estrogen Levels?
Treatment for low estrogen depends on the symptoms, causes, and the person’s treatment goals.
1) Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): This treatment helps restore estrogen levels. Sometimes, both estrogen and progesterone are given together.
2) Estrogen Therapy: In such cases, only estrogen is given in any form.
3) Managing Symptoms: Symptoms may be managed better through vaginal lubricants, pelvic floor physical therapy, and drugs to lower cholesterol. Other underlying conditions that may cause a lower estrogen level should be treated with this type of treatment.
Some natural remedies include,
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Maintaining weight.
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Use of soy.
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Practising regular exercises.
Conclusion:
Hormones are messengers secreted in the body and play a role in many functions of the body. Estrogen is a sex hormone that helps regulate reproductive and sexual health. Low levels of estrogen affect memory, concentration, and thought processes. Hence, it is important to know about estrogen, how it is linked to thinking or cognitive functions and the causes, symptoms, and management of low estrogen levels.
