Increased Risk of Parkinson's Disease in Women after Bilateral Oophorectomy

BACKGROUND: Results regarding the association between hormonal exposure and risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) are heterogeneous. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of reproductive life characteristics with PD among postmenopausal women. METHODS: The PARTAGE case-control included 130 female cases and 255 age-matched female controls. Information on gynecological history was obtained from a standardized questionnaire and PD was validated by neurological examination. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: After adjustment for education level, smoking status, professional exposure to pesticides, and coffee and alcohol drinking, bilateral oophorectomy (OR = 3.55, 95%CI = 1.75-7.20), but neither menopause before age 50 years (OR = 1.24, 95%CI = 0.74-2.09) nor hormone therapy (HT; OR = 1.07, 95%CI = 0.62-1.86), was associated with PD. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that bilateral oophorectomy is associated with increased risk of PD.