Estrogen-Only Hormone Therapy Linked to Lower Dementia and Alzheimer’s Risk
- Women who used estrogen-only hormone therapy later in life showed significantly lower odds of developing dementia and displayed fewer physical signs of Alzheimer’s disease in their brains.
- Researchers also observed 35 percent lower odds of Alzheimer’s-related brain changes at autopsy.
- Beyond clinical diagnoses, the study evaluated post-mortem brain tissue and biomarker tests to track physical pathology associated with cognitive decline.
Estrogen-Only Therapy Cuts Dementia Risk by 39 Percent
Women who used estrogen-only hormone therapy later in life showed significantly lower odds of developing dementia and displayed fewer physical signs of Alzheimer’s disease in their brains. This comes from a large-scale study of more than 21,000 participants.
Researchers also observed 35 percent lower odds of Alzheimer’s-related brain changes at autopsy. These included the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles among women who received the treatment.
Autopsy and Biomarker Evidence Reveal Less Pathology
Beyond clinical diagnoses, the study evaluated post-mortem brain tissue and biomarker tests to track physical pathology associated with cognitive decline.
According to the findings, biomarker assessments indicated less overall amyloid buildup among participants who used estrogen-only hormone therapy.