Reproductive Cycle & Alzheimer's Risk (IMAGE) Society for Neuroscience Caption The ovarian cycle comprises different stages with fluctuating female hormones. Female mice brewing Alzheimer's toxicity (hAPP/Abeta mice) spend more time in estrogen-dominant stages of their reproductive cycles (in brown) than their healthy, otherwise identical sisters without toxicity. With Alzheimer's toxicity brewing, these estrogen-dominant stages promote dysfunction in brain networks and in memory. In contrast, the progesterone-dominant stages (in purple) quell the problems. Could patterns of reproductive cycles in young women predict risk for developing Alzheimer's -- or open the door for prevention and early treatment in young women at risk for the disease? Credit Arturo Moreno Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.