Progesterone & Traumatic Brain Injury

As hormone replacement practitioners, we know the many benefits of progesterone therapy: mood and memory improvement, decrease in fibrocystic breast conditions, fewer hot flashes, less water retention…the list goes on. A preliminary study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine shows promise for using the hormone progesterone in a new way: to treat traumatic brain injury (TBI). In the three year study, conducted at the department of emergency medicine at Emory University, 77 TBI patients received intravenous progesterone, while 23 received a placebo. A 50 percent reduction in the rate of death was found in the group treated with progesterone.

Progesterone is traditionally thought of as a pregnancy and/or female sex hormone, but it is also vital for brain cell health. It is a neurosteroid naturally present in small amounts in the brains of both females and males. During pregnancy, progesterone levels soar, leading researchers to hypothesize a relationship with brain development and maturation. With that in mind, study data suggests that the hormone has the ability to prevent neuronal loss, reduce brain swelling, and improve brain function in those with traumatic injuries.

Interestingly, the majority of damage (approximately 75%) suffered in TBI occurs hours and even days after the initial injury. Inflammatory and cytotoxic processes cause edema in the parenchyma and brain cells, causing further destruction. Modern medicine has yet to discover a treatment effective enough to reduce or even halt the cascade of events within the brain after injury, which is why the progesterone study is so meaningful. Extensive animal research has shown that progesterone significantly reduces cerebral edema, which in turn reduces further tissue and cell injury. The application potential for humans is obvious, which is what led Emory researchers to their study.

The study was designed to assess the safety of using progesterone for the treatment of TBI and became so promising that further clinical studies are planned. The study subjects that were given the hormone received amounts approximately three times higher than those seen during pregnancy within 11 hours of initial injury for three consecutive days. Significant improvement of functional outcome, level of disability and death rate was seen at a 30 day follow up. Another important element of the study results was the lack of adverse effects from the hormone administration: none were reported.

According to the study’s lead author, progesterone has potential in numerous situations, such as the one out of every three soldiers seen at Walter Reed Medical Center who suffered TBI, usually from improvised explosive devices. Eventually the hormone may be administered by paramedics at accident scenes, and there is promise for stroke victims and newborns affected by a traumatic birth. It is also suggested that premature senility and Alzheimer’s disease patients may benefit from progesterone as well.

While further clinical studies are pending, this research helps confirm what many of us already know: progesterone is a safe, effective, and beneficial hormone.