Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may reduce the risk of dementia, according to a new study published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia. Scientists tracked more than 180,000 postmenopausal women in the UK, finding that those who had used HRT were 10% less likely to develop any type of dementia compared to non-users.
The research also indicated that women using HRT were 16% less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia. The most significant reduction in risk, at 26%, was seen in women who had undergone surgical menopause.
Professor Anne-Marie Minihane, director of the Norwich Institute for Healthy Ageing at the University of East Anglia and lead author, noted that while HRT is primarily prescribed for menopausal symptoms, this work suggests a potential role in long-term cognitive health for some women. The study used data from the UK Biobank, tracking participants over an average of 13 years, during which almost 4,000 dementia cases were identified.
The findings also suggest that women with naturally lower oestrogen exposure, such as those with late periods or early menopause, and those carrying the Apoe4 gene variant, may benefit more from HRT. However, the study is based on observational data, meaning it cannot prove a causal link, and other differences between groups could have influenced dementia risk.