Estrogen timing and concentration affect the impact of age-related stress in a neuronal cell model

Considering midlife, menopause and hormone therapy in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prevention

Sam Atkinson, Dr Claire Lancaster, Prof. Louise Serpell

 

Insights at a glance:

Neuroprotective actions of estrogen signalling are currently thought to be determined by time of initiation and relationship to existing damage.

We used a differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma model to assess the relationship between estrogen treatment timing and age-related stress at physiologically and clinically levels.

Late initiation could reduce neuroprotection even in the absence of stress, while concentration and timing effects vary by specific stress context.

Investigation of downstream effects on tau will support practical clinical integration, aiding inference of likely cognitive outcomes of treatment.