Estrogen Therapy May Hold Clues to Lower Dementia Risk in Women

A new study from Stanford Medicine suggests that estrogen-only hormone therapy may be linked to a lower risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease in women. Examining data from over 21,000 women, researchers found that those who used estrogen-only menopausal hormone therapy had 35 percent lower odds of increased Alzheimer's pathology and 39 percent lower odds of receiving a clinical dementia diagnosis compared to women who did not use the therapy.

The study analyzed data from two large Alzheimer's research databases and included women aged 50 and older who reported either using or not using hormone therapy. While the findings add to the growing body of research on the relationship between hormone therapy and brain health, some experts caution that the results do not prove hormone therapy prevents dementia.

They note that the study's observational design means it cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship, and randomized clinical trials have generally failed to show cognitive or memory benefits from hormone therapy. Experts also point out that women who choose to use hormone therapy may have better health outcomes overall, a phenomenon known as healthy user bias.

However, researchers emphasize that hormone therapy can still be beneficial for managing menopause symptoms, which can impact memory, attention, and overall quality of life. Instead of viewing hormone therapy as a strategy for preventing Alzheimer's disease, they suggest adhering to evidence-based approaches to reduce dementia risk, such as maintaining cardiovascular health, eating a plant-rich diet, engaging in regular exercise, staying socially connected, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and preventing traumatic brain injuries.