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Hormone therapy can help women avoid Alzheimer's disease
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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A new study by American scientists shows that the use of hormone replacement therapy can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in women.
Women who start this course no later than five years after menopause can significantly reduce this risk.
The results of the research by a team of scientists led by Peter Zandi, a neurologist from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, are published in the journal Neurology.
"This issue has caused controversy and debate. This is because some studies have shown positive results with the use of hormone therapy and its effect on reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, while other experiments have shown the opposite effect. We settled on the fact that, most likely, there is a so-called critical window during which hormone therapy can be useful, - says the study's leader Peter Zandi. - However, there is a danger that hormone therapy, which is started later than the stated period, can lead to the opposite results and, on the contrary, increase the risk of developing this disease."
The experts conducted a large-scale, long-term study, during which they observed 1,768 women aged 65 and older for eleven years. The participants in the experiment provided the experts with information about the onset of menopause and the hormonal drugs they used. Hormonal drugs were used by 1,105 women in total. Most of the drugs contained either estrogen or a combination of progestin and estrogen. The remaining 668 women did not take any drugs.
During the study period, dementia due to developing Alzheimer's disease was recorded in 176 women, including 89 in the control group and 87 in the hormone group.
Experts have found that the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in those who began hormone replacement therapy within the first five years of menopause decreased by 30%. The authors of the study conclude that it is very important to adhere to the time frame for using the therapy so as not to cause harm to the body.
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