Lifestyle Factors & Dementia Risk: What You Can Do
Menopausal hormone Therapy Shows No Impact on Dementia Risk
Table of Contents
Published December 31, 2025
Key Findings of Recent Research
A complete meta-analysis, reviewing data from over one million participants across one randomized clinical trial and nine observational studies, has found no notable link between menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and the risk of dementia or mild cognitive impairment. The research, completed in 2024, indicates that MHT does not appear to influence cognitive function, either positively or negatively.
Professor Aimee Spector, from the Department of Psychology and language Sciences at University College London (UCL), and lead author of the study, stated that the analysis will contribute to the growth of future World Health Institution (WHO) recommendations on reducing cognitive decline and dementia, expected to be published in 2026. The WHO currently lacks specific guidance regarding MHT and its effects on cognitive function, highlighting a critical gap for healthcare professionals and policymakers.
Limitations and Future Research
Researchers acknowledge limitations in their findings, primarily due to the limited number of relevant randomized controlled trials. Many of the analyzed datasets also presented a relatively low level of evidence.This underscores the need for additional, high-quality, long-term research to fully understand the long-term effects of MHT.
The study supports current clinical recommendations that MHT prescriptions should be based on a patient’s individual benefits and risks, rather than as a preventative measure against dementia. As the researchers noted, the decision to prescribe MHT should not be influenced by the hope of preventing cognitive decline.