Kristen M. Schuh, Leah M. Conrad, Natalie C. Tronson
{"title":"Hormonal contraceptives modulate resilience to psychiatric and neurodegenerative disease","authors":"Kristen M. Schuh, Leah M. Conrad, Natalie C. Tronson","doi":"10.1016/j.yhbeh.2025.105823","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hormonal contraceptives (HCs) are one of the most widely used classes of drug worldwide and are a critical part of women's health. Beyond their primary use for birth control, HCs exert many health benefits, including treatment of menstrual-related symptoms and reduced risk of certain types of cancers. Here, we focus on the role of HCs in promoting resilience to depression and Alzheimer's disease. Although risks for depression with HC use have been widely stated, HCs only increase risk for up to 10 % of users, and conversely improve mood and protect against depression for many others. Emerging evidence also suggests that HC use protects against age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease, even decades after HC use. We propose that these effects are due to modulatory effects of HCs on stress-related signaling and neuroimmune function. In this paper, we discuss how HCs interact with stress responsivity, neuroimmune signaling, and other individual differences to promote resilience or susceptibility to psychiatric and neurological disorders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13001,"journal":{"name":"Hormones and Behavior","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 105823"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Hormones and Behavior","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0018506X25001497","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Hormonal contraceptives (HCs) are one of the most widely used classes of drug worldwide and are a critical part of women's health. Beyond their primary use for birth control, HCs exert many health benefits, including treatment of menstrual-related symptoms and reduced risk of certain types of cancers. Here, we focus on the role of HCs in promoting resilience to depression and Alzheimer's disease. Although risks for depression with HC use have been widely stated, HCs only increase risk for up to 10 % of users, and conversely improve mood and protect against depression for many others. Emerging evidence also suggests that HC use protects against age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease, even decades after HC use. We propose that these effects are due to modulatory effects of HCs on stress-related signaling and neuroimmune function. In this paper, we discuss how HCs interact with stress responsivity, neuroimmune signaling, and other individual differences to promote resilience or susceptibility to psychiatric and neurological disorders.
期刊介绍:
Hormones and Behavior publishes original research articles, reviews and special issues concerning hormone-brain-behavior relationships, broadly defined. The journal''s scope ranges from laboratory and field studies concerning neuroendocrine as well as endocrine mechanisms controlling the development or adult expression of behavior to studies concerning the environmental control and evolutionary significance of hormone-behavior relationships. The journal welcomes studies conducted on species ranging from invertebrates to mammals, including humans.