Brains Love Estrogen (Yes, Even Male Brains)

Here’s a fun fact: your brain—regardless of gender—loves estrogen.
Brains of all kinds have estrogen receptors, and while there’s some genetic variation, our brains are well-fed by estrogen throughout our lives. (Bones, by the way, are next in line—they’re also big fans of estrogen!)

For men, a portion of their testosterone is converted into estrogen via aromatase enzymes.

For women, it’s a different story: after menopause, intrinsic estrogen production basically stops.

Sometimes men don’t make enough estrogen, and sometimes women can’t—or aren’t allowed to—take hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

That’s where genistein comes in. It’s a plant compound that can partially satisfy estrogen receptors in both the brain and bones. Daily doses in the range of 125–300 mg are considered helpful.

That said, when possible, hormone replacement therapy is still the better option for most women. The old fears about HRT from 2001 have been thoroughly debunked. If there’s no specific contraindication, your doctor should be discussing it with you.

Sadly, some women are still told they can’t start—or should stop—hormones after age 60. That’s outdated thinking. Fortunately, recent research has dispelled that myth, showing that women 65 and older on hormone therapy have reduced risks of:

• Breast, lung, and colon cancers

• Osteoporosis and fractures

• Urinary tract infections

• Heart disease

• And yes—dementia

Want a smarter, root-cause conversation about hormones?

Our team at Northwest Wellness Center is here to help. Dr. Gordon is not accepting new patients at this time, but Dr. Monika Mehrens (does not accept Medicare patients) is currently welcoming new patients.