Women's Health
Women who start common hormone therapy in their 50s may have 23% lower dementia risk
Postmenopausal women who initiate hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may have a significantly lower risk of developing dementia, according to a new study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia.
The research analyzed data from 183,450 UK Biobank participants, average age 60, over a 13-year follow-up period. The findings revealed that HRT use was associated with:
- About a 10% lower risk of all-cause dementia
- A 16% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease
The strongest association was observed among women who started HRT between the ages of 46 and 56, as well as those who had undergone surgical menopause. Conversely, starting HRT after age 56 was not linked to a reduced dementia risk.
Note: This study highlights an observational finding and cannot establish causation.