DHED

DHED (10β,17β-dihydroxyestra-1,4-dien-3-one) is a brain-selective estrogen prodrug designed to deliver 17β-estradiol specifically to the central nervous system while avoiding peripheral estrogenic side effects. It is chemically engineered to cross the blood-brain barrier and undergo enzymatic conversion to active 17β-estradiol only within the brain. Research has demonstrated that DHED provides neuroprotective benefits in models of Parkinson's disease by protecting dopaminergic neurons, reducing α-synuclein aggregation (by promoting tetramerization and autophagy of monomers), and mitigating motor deficits. By targeting the brain selectively, DHED aims to provide the therapeutic benefits of hormone replacement therapy without the associated systemic risks, such as increased cancer risk in reproductive tissues.

Other names

10β,17β-dihydroxyestra-1,4-dien-3-one10beta,17beta-dihydroxyestra-1,4-dien-3-one