Is there a connection between estrogen and Parkinson's disease?

Abstract

Increasing evidence suggests that estrogens may protect the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway affected in Parkinson's disease (PD). Animal studies show that estrogens influence the synthesis, release, and metabolism of dopamine and can modulate dopamine receptor expression and function. Some clinical studies suggest that PD symptoms may be exacerbated after menopause and delayed or alleviated with hormone replacement therapy, but others have failed to observe positive estrogenic effects. The conflicting findings suggest that several variables, including age, estrogen dose and formulation, and timing and length of dosing period, may determine whether benefits are seen and the nature of these benefits. Further investigation is therefore needed for the relationship between estrogens and the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system.