Surgical Removal Of Ovaries May Raise Dementia Risk

New research shows removal of ovaries before menopause more than doubles the risk of cognitive decline later in life. Research published in the journal Neurology found that women who had a bilateral oophorectomy (both ovaries removed) before age 46 and before menopause had more than twice the risk of being diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment decades later.

Three decades after the operation they performed worse on a series of cognitive tests than women who did not have their ovaries removed. The researchers noted there was no association with cognitive impairment if the removal occurred after the age of 46 for premenopausal women, or at any age after menopause. The risk was higher when ovaries were removed for a non life threatening condition such as endometriosis, but did not exist when the operation was performed because of ovarian cancer. The use of estrogen replacement therapy (HRT) did not appear to protect the brain from cognitive decline.

The link between dementia and early removal of ovaries has been known for some time.  It is thought to be related to sudden and long term lower levels of circulating estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Natural hormones have a powerful effect on mood, memory and cognition. Unfortunately the synthetic hormones used most commonly in HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) don’t have all those benefits. They can prevent hot flashes and night sweats, but don’t have the therapeutic benefits of natural hormones.

The following table describes the most common symptoms of hormone imbalances:

HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) cream contains a combination of hormones – such as some type of estrogen (eg. estriol, estradiol or estrone) plus natural progesterone and testosterone, and sometimes DHEA. The doses of each hormone vary according to your symptoms and age and requirements.

Triest – is a type of estrogen combination and has all 3 estrogens. Biest – is a type of estrogen combination and has 2 types of estrogen (estradiol and estrone)

Sometimes the cream will contain only one type of estrogen. The strongest estrogen is estradiol. The weakest and safest estrogen is estriol.

Other remedies to help balance your hormones

• Ensure you have a healthy liver One of the liver’s many roles is regulating hormones. Fatty liver is becoming increasingly common in modern society, and occurs when our liver cells get clogged with fat. Women with a fatty liver are more prone to hot flashes; due to their liver function being compromised and not being able to adequately regulate hormones. A healthy diet, lifestyle changes and good quality liver tonic can correct this. See the book ‘Fatty Liver: You Can Reverse It’ and take the liver tonic Livatone Plus.
• Try not to be overweight It is very common for women to experience weight gain between the ages of 35 and 55 due to fluctuations in hormone levels. When sex hormone levels decline, metabolism slows down. Overweight women are more likely to experience hot flashes, especially if their weight is centered around their abdominal area. Assess all areas of your lifestyle that may be contributing to weight gain with the intention of keeping your weight in the healthy range. There are excellent weight loss tips and recipes in my book ‘I Can’t Lose Weight and I Don’t Know Why’.  Synd-X is a low-carb high protein powder that is perfect to eat in between meals when you are hungry; as it aids weight loss by reducing cravings for carbohydrates and reducing hunger.
• Stress can worsen a hormone imbalance Feeling stressed, anxious and tense can aggravate hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes and insomnia. Work, health, family, relationships and financial issues can cause stress which diminishes hormone production. Have a massage, take a hot bath, listen to some relaxing music, read a good book, eat well and make sure you are getting adequate sleep. Take some time out for yourself and focus on the things that make you happy. You may benefit from taking magnesium, a mineral that helps to improve the physiological response to stress and helps to promote relaxation. Tyrosine is an amino acid that assists memory and mental performance during stressful conditions.
• Minimize your use of plastic Try to avoid plastic containers and plastic water bottles, and use glass containers and bottles instead. Plastic containers contain chemicals called xeno-estrogens; endocrine-disruptors that alter the normal function of hormones. Xeno-estrogens specifically have estrogen-like effects; which can cause ‘estrogen dominance’ and cause many unpleasant symptoms that were discussed previously. Toxins that leach from plastics into your food make the body work twice as hard at detoxifying, leading to illness. Build-up of xeno-estrogens has been linked to: breast, prostate and testicular cancer, obesity, infertility, early onset puberty, miscarriages and diabetes.
• Drink plenty of water Your body requires water to support the detoxification pathways in your liver and kidneys, and also helps to eliminate toxins from the body. It is recommended to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day to reduce hot flashes and hydrate dry itchy skin and vaginal dryness. If you are feeling peckish, have a glass of water. It’s likely you are getting your hunger signals and thirst signals mixed up and your body really needs water. Keep your fluids up with filtered water, herbal teas and raw vegetable juices. There are juice recipes specifically for menopause in my book ‘Raw Juices Can Save Your Life’. Adequate water intake is also important for helping to prevent kidney stones, which are common and extremely painful.
• Phytoestrogens can ease menopause symptoms Phytoestrogens in some herbs and foods have weak estrogenic properties. They help to ease the symptoms of menopause that are caused by lack of estrogen in a safe and balanced way. Legumes, nuts, seeds, spices and some vegetables contain varying levels of phytoestrogens. Femmephase capsules contain potent herbal phytoestrogens and may help relieve menopause symptoms.

Reference: Oophorectomy has cognitive consequences • The Medical Republic

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.