Can hormone replacement therapy prevent dementia? What the latest research tells us
A study has raised a question that many women would understandably want answered: Could hormone replacement therapy (HRT) protect against dementia? The research found that women who had used HRT were less likely to receive a dementia diagnosis during follow-up, particularly if they had undergone surgery involving their reproductive organs. But the results do not establish that HRT caused the…
This report explores a new study about potential links between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and dementia risk in women. Researchers analyzed data from over 183,000 postmenopausal women, finding those who used HRT had a lower risk of dementia compared to non-users. This effect was more pronounced among women who had undergone reproductive surgery, including those with surgical menopause.
However, while the study suggests an association, it does not prove HRT prevents dementia. The research also highlights complexities like varying HRT formulations, timing of initiation, and the APOE ε4 genetic variant's potential impact. Observational studies like this cannot definitively establish causation, and earlier trials have produced conflicting results on HRT's effects on cognition.
Current guidelines advise against prescribing HRT primarily to prevent dementia. The findings offer a reason to further study women with early menopause or reproductive surgery, but should not prompt decisions to start, stop, or change HRT solely for dementia prevention.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
