As the most powerful estrogen affects our emotions, memory and behavior

Medical advice

In scientific circles, estradiol has long been known as a key hormone in reproductive health. However, there is more and more evidence that they put in the spotlight and when it comes to the brain. Estradiol, as the most powerful and most prevalent representative of the estrogen class, is present in the body of both sexes and plays a much more complicated role than the one attributed traditionally to him. Scientists are increasingly exploring its function as a neuroactive steroid – a molecule that directly acts on brain pathways and affects our mental state, behavior, and even our learning and memory capacities.
Studies show that estradiol participates in the modulation of complex neurotransmitter systems in the brain, including the pathways of happiness hormones – serotonin, dopamine and glutamate. These systems play a key role in controlling emotions, feelings of reward, sexual behavior and cognitive functions. Through a comprehensive overview of contemporary literature, a number of ways in which estradiol affects the aforementioned neurotransmitters, illuminating its multiple and dynamic role. Experiments in rodent models, such as those involving the removal of gonads (gonadectomy), have shown how hormonal changes can reshape brain nerve networks and their functions. Activation of these receptors, especially through specific stimulants, offers promising therapeutic observations about the possibilities for regulating brain chemistry – especially in conditions caused by hormonal imbalance or neurological disorders. Although human research is still limited, the translation science, which links basic and clinical research, opens the door to understanding how these mechanisms can be applied in the treatment of mood disorders, cognitive dysfunctions and neurodegenerative diseases.