A study published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia has explored the relationship between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the risk of dementia in postmenopausal women. The research, which analysed data from the UK Biobank, suggests a potential association between HRT use and a reduced risk of dementia.
Overall, HRT was linked to a 10% reduced risk of dementia. The findings indicate that the timing of HRT initiation may be significant, with the greatest potential benefit observed in women who started HRT between the ages of 46 and 56. This supports a 'window of opportunity' hypothesis, suggesting that HRT use during the menopause transition phase could be important.
The study also highlighted differences based on the type of menopause. For women who experienced surgical menopause, HRT was associated with a reduced risk of dementia. However, for those who underwent natural menopause, HRT was not linked to a reduced risk.
Experts have noted that this was an observational study, meaning it shows an association rather than proving that HRT directly prevents dementia. Factors such as participants' general health, education levels, and age could influence the findings. Researchers have called for randomised controlled trials to definitively establish whether HRT can directly reduce dementia risk.