Photo: Healthy spinal cord tissue (left) shows a similar number of neurons (magnified in red) as the MS-infected spinal cord tissue of mice treated with a specific form of estrogen (right). Fewer neurons were found in the spinal cords of mice whose disease went untreated (center). Credit: Seema Tiwari-Woodruff/UCLA)

Animal studies have indicated that a specific form of estrogen can protect the brain from degeneration associated with multiple sclerosis, without increasing the risk of estrogen-induced cancers of the breast and uterus. In addition, the authors of the studies say that the so-called "designer estrogen" may also helpt treat other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Lou Gehrig's diseases, spinal cord injuries, and even normal aging.

Source: UCLA