---
title: How do steroid hormones affect the brain and cause symptoms? | Niyora
description: Steroid hormones can rapidly change brain activity and behavior within seconds to minutes. This review discusses these fast effects in relation to premenstrua
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/neuroactive-steroids-and-central-nervous-system-disorders-2001/
---

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- How do steroid hormones affect the brain and cause symptoms?

Survey study, 2001

# How do steroid hormones affect the brain and cause symptoms?

Steroid hormones can rapidly change brain activity and behavior within seconds to minutes. This review discusses these fast effects in relation to premenstrual syndrome and other conditions.

 Early or limited evidence

Not applicable - literature review of existing studies

## What they did

This was a literature review examining current knowledge about how steroid hormones affect the brain and nervous system. It covered multiple conditions and aspects of hormone effects on the brain.

## What they found

Steroid hormones affect brain activity and behavior quickly, producing changes within seconds to minutes. The review covered topics including premenstrual syndrome, estrogen and Alzheimer's disease, side effects of birth control pills, mood problems during menopause, hormone replacement therapy, seizure disorders, and steroid treatment for seizures.

## What it means for you

This review suggests that steroid hormones have quick effects on how the brain works, separate from their slower body-wide effects. The main limitation is that this is a literature review rather than original research, and it covers many conditions without providing specific findings about PMS.

## About the study

Original title Neuroactive steroids and central nervous system disorders Authors Wang M, Bäckström T, Sundström I et al. Journal International review of neurobiology Year 2001 Study design Survey study Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/s0074-7742(01)46071-5](https://doi.org/10.1016/s0074-7742(01)46071-5)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Estradiol, progesterone and hormone therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormone-therapy/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Epilepsy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-epilepsy/)

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