“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 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 2022, 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”.2

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) note:

“If started in women aged older than 65 years, HT might increase the risk of dementia”.3

Reducing Dementia Risk With HT

Is starting 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”.4

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

“Until there is better evidence, the potential benefits of HRT as a way to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease do not outweigh the potential risks of HRT, which includes an increased risk of certain types of cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Hormones may still provide a way to treat or prevent dementia though. Researchers continue to look for other hormones, and other ways of using oestrogen, which could be safer and more effective. More research into why women are more likely to get dementia than men is also important to help us understand exactly what causes it”.5

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”.6

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”.7

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”.8

Health Topics A-Z

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

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Links

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

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. HRT Benefits and Risks. November 2022:2. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/hrt-know-benefits-risks/ Accessed: 11 December 2022
  2. HRT Benefits and Risks. November 2022:2. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/hrt-know-benefits-risks/ Accessed: 11 December 2022
  3. 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: 11 December 2022
  4. 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. 12 June 2022. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20533691221104879 Accessed: 11 December 2022
  5. Hormones and Dementia: Hormone Replacement Therapy. Alzheimer’s Society https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/hormones-and-dementia Accessed: 11 December 2022
  6. 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: 11 December 2022
  7. 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: 11 December 2022
  8. 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: 11 December 2022
Topic Last Updated: 11 December 2022 – Topic Last Reviewed: 11 December 2022

Print Friendly, PDF & Email