Research on women’s hormones was mostly focused within the scope of reproductive biology, and any other information on how women’s bodies worked was (and in other cases, still is) less researched. When we think of female reproductive hormones, the very first thing that pops up is, of course, estrogen. However, new research has been emerging that progesterone–which is another female sex hormone–can be used for neuroprotective qualities in the brain.
Typically, progesterone receptors are inside the cell and help with gene transcription (making RNA from DNA); but recent research has shown that there are additional progesterone receptors on the membranes of cells in the brain. This indicates that these receptors have neurprotective behaviors to increase cellular function, including protection from aging and potential benefits against combating Alzheimer’s. Dr. Meharvan Singh et. al. (2024) demonstrated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is regulated by progesterone receptors and membrane progesterone receptors, which helps protect the brain and central nervous system and has other positive effects. In women with low progesterone levels (specifically post-menopausal women), since BDNF is less likely to be expressed because of these low levels, their sensitivity to Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s increases. In turn, this means that potentially, hormone therapy can be used after menopause to help decrease this probability.
While this is incredible news, it also made me curious about other mental disorders that can be affected by differing hormone levels, specifically in women. There’s one period in women’s lives where their hormones are changed significantly: pregnancy. In some peri-/post-partum women, an emergence of OCD symptoms occurs. Why does this happen? Could hormone therapy help this, too?
In a case report by Spiegel et al. (2019) titled “A Case Of Peripartum Obsessive-compulsive Disorder: The Potential Role of Corticosteroids, Gonadal Steroids, and the Neuropeptide Oxytocin in its Pathogenesis”, they studied the case of a women post-partum and her onset of OCD. What intrigued me the most is that during pregnancy, women’s hormones increase gradually and then, after birth, experience a sharp drop, including estradiol. The report noted that “both estradiol and progesterone are considered to have an overall neuroprotective effect via serotonin, so the significant decline of these hormones in the postpartum period can put patients at greater risk of developing or exacerbating OCD symptoms.” The report mentioned that, additionally, due to higher cortisol levels during pregnancy, these high levels can decrease BDNF levels, which is common in those with OCD.
There are few experiments done where hormone therapy is used to help with OCD symptoms, and even fewer with pregnant women with OCD symptoms. However, seeing the connection between women’s hormones, BDNF levels, and peri-/post-menospause and how this manifests in different disorders, I hope that research will continue in understanding how these hormones work and what can be done with them.
Singh, M., Krishnamoorthy, V. R., Kim, S., Khurana, S., & LaPorte, H. M. (2024). Brain-derived neuerotrophic factor and related mechanisms that mediate and influence progesterone-induced neuroprotection. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1286066
Spiegel, D. R., Sommese, K., Turenkov, A., & Naimon, N. (2019, May 1). A case of peripartum obsessive-compulsive disorder: The potential role of corticosteroids, gonadal steroids, and the neuropeptide oxytocin in its pathogenesis. Innovations in clinical neuroscience. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6659988/#sec2
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