Alzheimer’s and HRT: Study suggests sweet spot to avoid dementia
A new study suggests that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has the potential to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, found that women who use HRT for at least five years, but not more than 10, are at a significantly lower risk of developing dementia compared to those who do not use HRT.
The findings, published in the journal Neurology, come as a welcome relief to many women who are looking for ways to protect themselves from developing dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Previous research has suggested that HRT can help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, but this new study is the first to suggest a “sweet spot” for the optimal duration of treatment.
The study used data from the Women’s Health Initiative, a long-term study of more than 27,000 women aged 65 and older.
The researchers looked at how long the women used HRT, and whether they developed dementia or Alzheimer’s over the course of the study.
The results showed that women who used HRT for five to 10 years had a 33% lower risk of developing dementia and a 44% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared to women who did not use HRT.
The researchers say that the benefits of HRT only last as long as it is taken, and that the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s increases again after 10 years.
The authors of the study caution that the findings should not be seen as a definitive recommendation for the use of HRT for the prevention of dementia, as the results are based on observational data and not a clinical trial.
However, they believe that their findings do provide a promising avenue for further research into the potential benefits of HRT for preventing dementia.
For women considering taking HRT, the authors of the study suggest that they discuss the risks and benefits with their doctor, and weigh the potential risks against the potential benefits.
The study suggests that hormone replacement therapy may provide a “sweet spot” for reducing the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. A new study from the University of Michigan found that women who use HRT for five to 10 years have a substantially lower risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s when compared to those who do not use HRT. While the authors caution that their findings should not be seen as a definitive recommendation for the use of HRT, they believe that their findings do provide a promising avenue for further research into the potential benefits of HRT for preventing dementia. Women considering taking HRT should discuss the risks and benefits with their doctor, and weigh the potential risks against the potential benefits.