Estrogen-only hormone therapy associated with lower risk of dementia
Use of hormone therapy later in life was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia, according to a study published in Neurology.
A study published in Neurology suggests that estrogen-only hormone therapy may lower the risk of developing dementia in women, particularly when used later in life. Researchers examined medical records from two large datasets, including data from 21,462 female participants. Of these, 1,953 had used hormone therapy, while 19,509 had not.
Those who used the therapy started at an average age of over 70 and continued for about three to five years. Among the group with autopsy information, hormone therapy users were less likely to have signs of Alzheimer's disease in their brains. Specifically, 18% of users had no signs, compared to 10% of non-users. Additionally, 40% of users had all three markers of Alzheimer's disease, compared to 51% of non-users.
After adjusting for various factors, the study found that hormone therapy users had 35% lower odds of signs of Alzheimer's disease at autopsy. Furthermore, hormone therapy was associated with 39% lower odds of dementia diagnosis and a lower risk of memory problems or functional decline. While the study provides evidence of an association between estrogen-only hormone therapy use and better dementia and brain health outcomes, it does not prove causation.
The findings are based on observational design and historical treatment patterns, which may not directly apply to current practice.
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