Hormone Therapy and Dementia

“Hormonal status can affect cognitive function
and over the years there has been conflicting evidence
regarding the risk of dementia and HRT use”.1

Umbrella

What may the Hormone Therapy and Dementia Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Hormone (Replacement) Therapy H(R)T
  • Hormone Medicines
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  • Hormone Therapy (HT)
  • Hormones
  • Medicines for Hormone Replacement Therapy
  • Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  • Menopause Hormone Medicines
  • Menopause Medicines

Date

What can it be important to be clear about with hormone therapy (HT) information?

It can be important to be clear about the date of all information including the date of HT information, because this information may have been updated.

Symptoms or Chronic Conditions

What can it also be important to be clear about with HT information?

It can also be important to be clear about whether HT information is about the use of HT for the management of menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness or for the prevention of chronic conditions such as dementia, cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis.

Dementia Prevention

Is HT recommended to prevent dementia?

On page three of Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 1. Who Is MHT For? Who Might Not Need MHT?, the International Menopause Society’s (IMS) Leaflet for Women for World Menopause Day 2024 the IMS note:

“Women who go through menopause at the natural age (after 45) and have no bothersome symptoms usually don’t need MHT. Some people believe MHT is a “fountain of youth”, but there’s little scientific evidence for that. It’s important to remember MHT is not recommended solely to prevent aging, memory loss, or dementia”.2
Hormone Therapy and Dementia

Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Dementia Study, 28 June 2023

What is the Conclusions of the Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Dementia: Nationwide, Nested Case-Control Study, published 28 June 2023?

The Conclusions of the Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Dementia: Nationwide, Nested Case-Control Study is:

“Conclusions Menopausal hormone therapy was positively associated with development of all cause dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, even in women who received treatment at the age of 55 years or younger. The increased rate of dementia was similar between continuous and cyclic treatment. Further studies are warranted to determine whether these findings represent an actual effect of menopausal hormone therapy on dementia risk, or whether they reflect an underlying predisposition in women in need of these treatments”.3

In Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Dementia [Editorials], published 28 June 2023, in response to the above study Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Dementia: Nationwide, Nested Case-Control Study, what do the authors note:

In Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Dementia [Editorials], the authors note:

“Pourhadi and colleagues’ new study reported an association with increased risk of dementia even in women using menopausal hormone therapy before the age of 55 years for less than or equal to five years, which is within the age range recommended by the North American Menopause Society. Their findings contradict those of the WHIMS-Y trial and other trials that reported no effect on cognitive function among women who were randomly assigned to hormone therapy in early menopause. Although, longer follow-up is needed to determine participants’ dementia risk later in life”.4

Where may I find Links related to the Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Dementia: Nationwide, Nested Case-Control Study, published 28 June 2023?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

Dementia Risk Under the Age of 60 Years

Under the age of 60 years, can starting hormone therapy (HT) increase the risk of dementia?

On page two in HRT Benefits and Risks, published November 2020, the (British) Women’s Health Concern note:

“Hormonal status can affect cognitive function and over the years there has been conflicting evidence regarding the risk of dementia and HRT use. Based on the current evidence, women can be reassured that HRT is unlikely to increase the risk of dementia or be detrimental to cognitive function in women initiating HRT under the age of 60 years”.5

Dementia Risk Older than 65 Years

Older than 65 years, can starting HT increase the risk of dementia?

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Risks, published July 2022, the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) (now the Menopause Society) note:

“If started in women aged older than 65 years, HT might increase the risk of dementia”.6

Reducing Dementia Risk With HT

Is HT recommended to reduce the risk of dementia in women experiencing the menopause?

No. On page three in the Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause, first published online 10 June 2022, one of the recommendations is:

Hormone Therapy and Dementia

  • “Women should be reassured that HRT is unlikely to increase the risk of dementia or to have a detrimental effect on cognitive function in women initiating HRT before the age of 65. However, HRT should not be initiated for the purpose of reducing the risk of dementia in women experiencing the menopause. National as well as international recommendations do not support the use of HRT for the primary or secondary prevention of dementia”.7

In Hormones and Dementia: Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Reduce Dementia Risk? the (British) Alzheimer’s Society elaborate on:

“The research into whether taking oestrogen (as part of HRT) can reduce women’s risk of dementia has been mixed. Some studies suggest that oestrogen may reduce dementia risk whilst others say it increases it”.8

Documentary: Sex, Mind and the Menopause

What did the Channel 4 documentary Davina McCall: Sex, Mind and the Menopause discuss about HT and dementia?

In Menopause: HRT’s Brain-Protecting Effect May Be Overstated, published 11 May 2022, the authors note:

“The documentary, called Sex, Mind and the Menopause, discussed how the menopause can cause a range of brain-related symptoms, including brain fog, mood changes and memory problems. It also suggested that taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) some years before the menopause may be the solution to these problems – alongside potentially halving a woman’s risk of developing dementia”.9

In Menopause: HRT’s Brain-Protecting Effect May Be Overstated the authors response to the Documentary also includes:

“Hormone replacement therapy can be effective for many women in alleviating a range of menopausal symptoms, particularly hot flushes. Whether HRT can prevent dementia or alleviate brain-related symptoms due to the menopause is still unclear. But fortunately, any brain changes that happen because of the menopause are usually temporary”.10

Health Care Provider

What if I would like to start HT?

If you would like to start HT, it may be in your best interest to also choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

On page one in Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use the NAMS elaborate on:

“Every woman is different, and you will decide about whether to use HT based on the severity of your symptoms, your personal and family health history, and your own beliefs about menopause treatments. Your healthcare professional will be able to help you with your decision”.11

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Hormone Therapy and Dementia?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Hormone Therapy and Dementia?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. 20 Years of Data Lead To Changes In Perceptions, Usage of Menopausal HT
  2. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
  3. About Dementia: What Is Dementia?
  4. Association Between Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Risk of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Implications for Precision Hormone Therapy
  5. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  6. Can Hormone Replacement Therapy Prevent Menopause Brain Changes?
  7. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  8. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  9. Dementia
  10. Dementia
  11. Dementia & MHT – Cause or Correlation?
  12. Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s Disease: Are They The Same?
  13. Does HRT Prevent Dementia? Or Cause It? Women’s Health Experts Prof Annice Mukherjee and Prof Joyce Harper Have Studied ALL the Research To Cut Through the Hype and Give the Definitive Answer
  14. Does Menopause Hormone Therapy Increase or Decrease Your Risk of Dementia? Here’s the Science
  15. Expert Reaction To Observational Study on HRT and Dementia
  16. Experts Answer Your Menopause Questions In New Video
  17. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  18. Find An AMS Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  19. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  20. HRT
  21. HRT Questions Answered
  22. HRT Use By Younger Women Linked To Dementia, Study Says. Experts Disagree [CNN Report]
  23. HRT – Types, Doses and Regimens
  24. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  25. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  26. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Benefits and Risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  27. Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Persons: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions
  28. Hormone Therapy and Dementia: What Do We Know?
  29. Hormone Therapy for Menopause Linked To Increased Risk of Dementia
  30. Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms
  31. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  32. Hormone Therapy and Dementia: Novel Insights
  33. Hormones and Dementia Risk
  34. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  35. Hot Flashes? Night Sweats? Progesterone Can Help Reduce Symptoms of Menopause
  36. How Food Preferences Are Linked To Cognition and Brain Health – and Why A Balanced Diet Is Superior
  37. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Midlife Brain Fog
  38. IMS Past President and Current Treasurer Quoted In CNN Health Article on HRT and Dementia Risk
  39. Is There A Link Between HRT and Cognitive Decline? Research Is Inconclusive
  40. Joint BMS, FSRH, RCGP and RCOG Position Statement on the Supply Shortages of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  41. Joint Position Statement by the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  42. Lisa Mosconi: Research Is ‘Validating … Women’s Experiences’
  43. Long-Term Cognitive Effects of Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Findings From the KEEPS Continuation Study
  44. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  45. Mayo Clinic Minute: Can the MIND Diet Improve Brain Health? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  46. Mayo Clinic Minute: Help With Hot Flashes Due To Menopause [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  47. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Estrogen Replacement Therapy After Ovary Removal
  48. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  49. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Dementia [Editorials]
  50. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Dementia: Nationwide, Nested Case-Control Study
  51. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and the Mind: The Role of Hormone Replacement In the Prevention and Treatment of Cognitive Decline, Dementia, and Cognitive Dysfunction of Depression
  52. Menopause
  53. Menopause
    Menopause
  54. ‘Menopause Brain’ Is Real. Here’s How Women’s Brains Change In Midlife.
  55. Menopause Hormone Therapy Significantly Alters Pathophysiological Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s Disease
  56. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  57. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Hormone Therapy
  58. Menopause May Unmask Vulnerability To Alzheimer’s Disease, Other Dementias
  59. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  60. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  61. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated With Menopause and Midlife
  62. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  63. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  64. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  65. Menopause: HRT’s Brain-Protecting Effect May Be Overstated
  66. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
    Hormone Therapy
  67. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] [07 November 2024]
  68. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  69. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  70. Mitochondria, Estrogen and Female Brain Aging
  71. Mosconi: ‘Menopause Is A Neurologically Active State’
  72. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  73. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  74. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  75. Perimenopause
  76. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  77. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Perimenopause Symptom Checklist
  78. Probiotics May Help Boost Mood and Cognitive Function
  79. Risks and Benefits of MHT
  80. Science In 5: Episode #122 – Dementia
  81. Shedding Light on the Menopause Experience and Demystifying Treatment
  82. Staying Healthy During and After Menopause
  83. Study Linking HRT With Dementia Risk ‘Unhelpful’
  84. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Menopause Hormone Therapy on Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia [23 October 2024]
  85. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause
  86. The Best Foods To Eat for Better Memory and Brain Health
  87. The Menopause Society Statement on Misinformation Surrounding Hormone Therapy
    Hormone Therapy
  88. The Role of Estrogen Therapy As A Protective Factor for Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia In Postmenopausal Women: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature
  89. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  90. The Women’s Health Initiative Trials: Clinical Messages
  91. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  92. Video & Podcast Library: Videos – World Menopause Day 2024: Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies
  93. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Prevention of Chronic Diseases In Women: Where Does MHT Fit In?
  94. What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis
  95. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning [27 November 2024]
  96. Why Is Dementia Different for Women?
  97. World Menopause Day 2022: Patient Information Leaflet – Brain Fog and Memory Difficulties In Menopause [Multiply Languages]
  98. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women [Multiply Languages]
  99. World Menopause Day 2024: Poster for Women
  100. World Menopause Day 2023Young Onset Dementia: Perimenopause and Menopause

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. HRT Benefits and Risks. Updated: November 2020:2. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/hrt-know-benefits-risks/ Accessed: 05 December 2024
  2. Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy: 1. Who Is MHT For? Who Might Not Need MHT? 2024:3. International Menopause Society https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-WMD-Leaflet_English.pdf Accessed: 05 December 2024
  3. Pourhadi, N., Mørch, L. S. Holm, E.A. Torp-Pederson, C., Meaidi, A. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Dementia: Nationwide, Nested Case-Control Study. 28 June 2023. https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj-2022-072770 Accessed: 05 December 2024
  4. Kantarci, K., Manson, JA, E. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Dementia [Editorials]. 28 June 2023:381. https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj.p1404 Accessed: 05 December 2024
  5. HRT Benefits and Risks. Updated: November 2020:2. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/hrt-know-benefits-risks/ Accessed: 05 December 2024
  6. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use: Potential Risks. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 05 December 2024
  7. Hamoda, H., Mukherjee, A., Morris, E., Baldeweg, S. E., Jayesena, C. N., Briggs, P., Moger, S. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause. First Published Online 12 June 2022 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 05 December 2024
  8. Hormones and Dementia: Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Reduce Dementia Risk? Last Reviewed: 23 December 2024. Alzheimer’s Society https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/hormones-and-dementia Accessed: 05 December 2024
  9. Hogervorst, E., D’Donnell, E. and Hardy, R. Menopause: HRT’s Brain-Protecting Effect May Be Overstated. 11 May 2022 https://theconversation.com/menopause-hrts-brain-protecting-effect-may-be-overstated-182449 Accessed: 05 December 2024
  10. Hogervorst, E., D’Donnell, E. and Hardy, R. Menopause: HRT’s Brain-Protecting Effect May Be Overstated. 11 May 2022 https://theconversation.com/menopause-hrts-brain-protecting-effect-may-be-overstated-182449 Accessed: 05 December 2024
  11. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use. 2022:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/professional/menonote-deciding-about-ht-2022.pdf Accessed: 05 December 2024
Topic Last Updated: 10 April 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 05 December 2024

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