An article in Cell Research has shed some light on why estrogen deficiency leads to aging.

In the adrenal glands, TElomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) gene expression is reduced as a result of estrogen insufficiency. This was shown to lead to significantly shorter telomeres, compromised cellular proliferation, and adrenal atrophy.

Three weeks administration of estrogen restored TERT gene expression, telomerase activity, and cell proliferation in the estrogen-deficient mice used in the study.

The adrenal glands are an extremely important part of the endocrine system and producers of a variety of hormones in the human body. They are the body’s main source of the catecholamine hormones adrenaline (epinephrine), noradrenaline (norepinephrine), and dopamine. They are also devoted to the synthesis of corticosteroid hormones from cholesterol.

Adrenal insufficiency manifests a number of undesirable symptoms, such as frequent dizziness, fainting, incoherence, and loss of brain activity. In addition, reduced sex drive, abdominal weight gain, a higher incidence of respiratory diseases, and a host of other maladies result from the underproduction of adrenal hormones.

This lends weight to the importance of maintaining adequate estrogen levels throughout life and particularly after menopause. Research into more effective Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) continues, and should be seriously considered by women fighting tooth and nail against the ravages of time.