In the previous blog post, The Dietary Inflammation & Alzheimer’s Connection, we discussed the effect diet has on inflammation in the body and how this increases risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In this post, we will explore the relationship between hormones and cognitive decline.
There are two different kinds of dementia: degenerative (Alzheimer’s disease) and non-degenerative. Non-degenerative forms of dementia develop from traumatic, toxic, or immunological causes. Other causes of non-degenerative dementia can be drugs, alcohol, hormone or vitamin imbalances, or even depression. They also stem from problems associated with nutrition, endocrine and metabolic abnormalities. In general, non-degenerative dementia progresses much more quickly than some of its degenerative counterparts.
Nondegenerative dementias are a diverse but important group of cognitive disorders because they may be reversible with treatment.
Hormone abnormalities are imbalances of hormones in the bloodstream that can cause metabolic problems, leading to non-degenerate forms of dementia. Typically, these hormone abnormalities are caused by endocrine disorders such as Cushing’s disease and Addison’s disease. Other causes are exposure to heavy metals (including lead, arsenic, mercury and manganese), very high levels of blood calcium, and cirrhosis of the liver. Additional risk factors include nutritional imbalances or disorders, such as a deficiency in B-vitamins.
Routine lab work can identify hormone abnormalities by monitoring blood composition and determining whether there are indications of endocrine disorders or other hormone imbalances.
Symptoms of dementia stemming from hormone abnormalities are similar to those of other degenerative forms of dementia, though of course they can differ patient to patient. As always, identifying conditions early can result in better treatment outcomes. Early stage symptoms of hormone-related dementia may include:
- Difficulty performing previously simple tasks
- Difficulty when attempting to learn new information
- Losing direction during familiar trips
- Having difficulty recalling language
- Losing or misplacing items
- Loss of social skills or personality changes
As the disease progresses, more severe symptoms that commonly develop can include:
- Poor sleep patterns
- Forgetting memories
- Forgetting details on current events
- Difficulty in basic daily tasks
- Difficulty writing and reading
- Poor judgment and frequent confusion
As with most forms of dementia, treatment options for dementia-related hormone abnormalities focuses on managing the symptoms of the condition, or attempting to slow the progression. Unfortunately, medications that are used to manage Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative forms of dementia are ineffective in treating this form of dementia.
Distinguishing between degenerative and non-degenerative forms of dementia is essential in determining the root cause of a patient’s cognitive lapses. Patients with a history of endocrine disorders, or those with hormone imbalances due to thyroid disorders and/or hormone therapies are especially prone to the development of dementia later in life. Few treatments specific to hormone-related dementia exist, but as a non-degenerative form of dementia, many other treatment options are available.
Distinguishing between these forms might be very important in the estate litigation context, when challenging a will, or during a trust contest. For example, if the testator (person signing the will) or settlor (person creating the trust) had reversible, nondegenerative dementia, then the trial court should focus its energy during an inheritance dispute proceeding to determine if there had been any signs of reversal. Conversely, if the dementia were degenerative, then it is most likely that whatever state the cognitive decline had reached prior to the date of execution of a will or trust would most likely not have improved.
Sources: