What if the same hormone that maintains pregnancy could also heal damage to the brain? Progesterone, one of the most complex hormones produced by the body, prevents preterm birth and simultaneously protects delicate neurons. Meharvan Singh heavily emphasized the medical potential of progesterone in his lecture, discussing how he chose to break the dogma of hormonal research’s limits to reproductive health. Much of his experience can be compared to trials done by Indian scientists in Karnataka and Punjab. The article “Use of Progesterone in Obstetrics: A Narrative Review” discusses progesterone’s role in pregnancy and preventing prenatal complications, highlighting its dual role in the female body. Singh (2024) discusses how the hormone supports brain repair and resilience, while Sofat and other authors talk about its application in reproductive technology. Together, both experts raise questions about progesterone’s diverse functions.
Dr. Singh’s research focused on the BDNF, a protein that encourages nerve cell growth to support any repairs to the brain. Progesterone interacts with the factor, supporting the idea that the brain is a target of gonadal hormones to assist in cognitive plasticity. Because progesterone fluctuates throughout a lifetime, Dr. Singh emphasizes its distinction as both an activational (adapting to bodily changes) and organizational (shaping long-term) effect. His findings point to the hormone as a possible tool in helping with dementia and cognitive decline, a process similar to estrogen replacements. Others’ work showed that “administration of progesterone following ischemia resulted in improvements in various functional outcomes, including the rotarod test, and adhesive-backed somatosensory and neurological scores” (Singh, 2024, p.2). Dr. Singh then researched stroke protection and new techniques in healing post-ischemia. He discovered that blocking let-7i and providing progesterone to the patient could reduce inflammation and enhance cognition in mice post-stroke.
Progesterone’s benefits are widely displayed in the reproductive field as well. The hormone primarily helps grow blood vessels and provide nutrients for the embryo, assisting the uterus in preparing for the baby. Progesterone has also been shown to prevent early contractions and defend the fetus from the immune system, which may view it as a threat to the mother’s health. Sofat et. al’s article mentions that a deficiency in the life-saving hormone could cause miscarriages or intensify the process of attaching the embryo. Through the researchers’ results, they highlight its long-term role in fetal development, rejecting previous beliefs about its temporary function. An interesting aspect of the article as compared to Dr. Singh’s lecture was the use of various forms of progesterone, especially synthetic versions. "Both intramuscular progesterone and oral micronized progesterone raise serum PIBF far greater than vaginal progesterone." (Sofat et. al, 2025, p.179), showing that shots and oral pills were effective in suppressing negative activity from the immune system. However, according to Dr. Singh, other forms such as MPA may not be the best option for brain health. While it can protect the uterus and function as birth control, it has also been shown to increase inflammation and damage memory skills. This juxtaposition raises the question of whether specific progesterone forms may be considered safe for mothers undergoing HRT.
Progesterone’s diverse impact on the human body emphasizes Dr. Singh’s mission to challenge dogma and reevaluate our approach to hormones. This effort should be performed systemically to solidify evidence and display the work to the world. Current research ignored the hormone’s effects due to flawed methods in the case of the brain’s cerebral cortex. Scientists dangerously adjusted wash conditions to avoid seeing estrogen receptors, simply due to the previous knowledge that such receptors are only expressed in the nucleus. Solving this misunderstanding can provide insight into current events, such as the development of hormone therapy for women postmenopause. This technique could be perfected beyond the current field into cancer treatment by considering progesterone's protective effects and activating brain receptors. Binding to the mAR, or DNA regions, for instance, could enhance the impact of chemotherapy.
Dr. Singh’s and others’ research has solidified the likelihood of progesterone’s dual role in the body, playing a key part in brain repair and pregnancy. Synthetic forms of the hormone have shown differing effects and are still being compared to determine the safest options for female patients. Challenging dogma is an essential stepping stone in making breakthroughs such as this one. With a more accepting worldview, brain research can be expanded to handle larger issues such as cancer and the safety of hormone therapy.
References
Singh, M. (2024). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and related mechanisms that mediate and influence progesterone-induced neuroprotection. Frontiers in Endocrinology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1286066
Sofat, S., Dalei, B., Kaul, S., Nair, A., Datti, S., Adidum, K., & Sofat, S. (2025). Use of progesterone in obstetrics: A narrative review. International Journal of Life Sciences, Biotechnology and Pharma Research, 14(1), 174–182. https://doi.org/10.69605/ijlbpr_14.1.2025.31
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