Oestrogen and Parkinson’s Disease

Can Oestrogen Supplements Help Women with Parkinson’s Disease? What the Science Says

Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects both men and women, but women often notice changes in their symptoms after menopause, when oestrogen levels drop. This has led many to wonder: could oestrogen supplements help women with Parkinson’s manage their symptoms or even slow the disease?

Here’s what the latest research tells us—summed up for the Parkinson’s community.

The Link Between Oestrogen and Parkinson’s

Oestrogen is a hormone best known for its role in women’s health, but it also has important effects on the brain. Scientists have noticed that women are less likely to develop Parkinson’s than men, and that risk rises after menopause. This suggests oestrogen might help protect the brain cells that are lost in Parkinson’s.

A large meta-analysis pooling results from many studies found that women who used oestrogen therapy after menopause had a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease compared to those who did not (odds ratio 0.47, meaning about half the risk)6. Another study found that women who took oestrogen after menopause were less likely to develop PD than those who didn’t4.

Can Oestrogen Improve Symptoms in Women Who Already Have Parkinson’s?

Some studies suggest oestrogen supplements may help with symptoms, especially in the early stages of the disease. For example:

A study from Columbia University found that women with early PD who had used oestrogen had less severe symptoms than those who hadn’t, even before starting standard Parkinson’s medications1.
A small clinical trial in postmenopausal women with more advanced PD found that oestrogen therapy was safe and well-tolerated over eight weeks, with a trend toward improved movement and daily functioning, though the results weren’t statistically significant due to the small sample size2.

How Might Oestrogen Help?

Research in both people and animal models suggests oestrogen may:

Protect the brain’s dopamine-producing cells from damage
Reduce inflammation in the brain
Help the brain adapt and compensate for cell loss3 5

A recent imaging study showed that women with a longer lifetime exposure to oestrogen had healthier dopamine systems and less severe motor symptoms than those with shorter exposure5.

Is Oestrogen Supplementation Safe?

Short-term studies show that oestrogen therapy is generally safe for postmenopausal women with Parkinson’s, with mild side effects like breast tenderness or spotting2. However, oestrogen therapy is not risk-free; it can increase the risk of certain cancers, blood clots, and stroke, so it’s not suitable for everyone.

The Bottom Line

Oestrogen may help protect the brain and reduce the risk or severity of Parkinson’s in women.
Some women with PD and low oestrogen levels may benefit from oestrogen therapy, especially early in the disease, but more research is needed.
The decision to use oestrogen supplements should always be made with your healthcare team, weighing the potential benefits and risks for your individual situation.

Key References:

Currie LJ, Harrison MB, Trugman JM, et al. Postmenopausal Estrogen Use Affects Risk for Parkinson Disease. Arch Neurol. 2004;61(6):886–888.4
Miller IN, Cronin-Golomb A. Gender differences in Parkinson’s disease: clinical characteristics and cognition. Mov Disord. 2010;25(16):2695-2703.1
Liu R, Huang X, Chen H. Meta-analysis of estrogen replacement therapy for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases in postmenopausal women. Front Neurosci. 2020;14:157.6
Jeon BS, et al. Beneficial effect of estrogen on nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in postmenopausal drug-naïve Parkinson’s disease. Sci Rep. 2019;9:10226.5
Haaxma CA, et al. Gender differences in Parkinson’s disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2007;78(8):819-824.2

If you have questions about hormone therapy and Parkinson’s, talk to your neurologist or Parkinson’s nurse specialist. Every woman’s situation is unique, and your care team can help you make the best choice for your health.

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