Surgical Menopause and Risks for Parkinsonism and Dementia

Estrogen’s effects on the brain remain unclear. In two articles, these researchers report on associations between estrogen deficiency after surgical menopause and the risks for developing parkinsonism and cognitive impairment or dementia. Investigators identified 2390 women from Olmstead County, Minnesota, who had undergone unilateral or bilateral premenopausal oophorectomy from 1950 through 1987, and 2390 controls. Parkinsonism was identified by record review and, when possible, telephone interview (using validated, well-established diagnostic criteria) and clinical examination. Cognitive impairment was diagnosed by the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m), by a proxy verifying a diagnosis of dementia, or by impairmen…