Does estrogen protect against dementia? And if so, who should take it?
Recent research hints that systemic hormone replacement therapy for menopause may reduce the risk of dementia. But more data is needed to reach a definitive conclusion, experts told Live Science.
Estrogen levels naturally decrease during and after menopause, potentially contributing to women's increased risk of developing dementia. However, the impact of estrogen on cognitive health remains unclear due to conflicting results from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) studies. While some research suggests that restoring estrogen during early menopause may protect brain health, more definitive clinical trials are needed.
Estrogen has been shown to help prevent the formation of abnormal proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease, such as amyloid beta and tau, and may improve sleep quality, which is crucial for brain health. However, observational data shows that estrogen-only HRT is linked to a reduced risk of dementia, while another study found an increased dementia rate with this form of HRT.
Thus, the relationship between estrogen and dementia risk is complex and requires further investigation.
Written by urgent.news from Live Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
