Estrogen-dependent hippocampal wiring as a risk factor for age-related dementia in women

This review proposes to change this perspective and consider women's vulnerability to developing AD as a consequence of sex differences in the neurobiology of memory, focusing on the hippocampus. The hippocampus of cognitively impaired subjects tends to shrink with age; however, in many cases, this can be prevented by exercise or cognitive training, suggesting that if you do not use the hippocampus you lose it.

Women are more prone than men to develop age-related dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). This has been linked to the marked decrease in circulating estrogens during menopause.