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 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:

Health Topics A-Z

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Links

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  1. 20 Years of Data Lead To Changes In Perceptions, Usage of Menopausal HT
  2. 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  3. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  4. BMS & WHC’s 2020 Recommendations on Hormone Replacement Therapy In Menopausal Women
  5. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  6. Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  7. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  8. Can Hormone Replacement Therapy Prevent Menopause Brain Changes?
  9. Combined Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  10. Complementary and Alternative Therapies Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  11. Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [Video]
  12. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  13. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  14. Dementia
  15. EMAS Menopause Essentials
  16. EMAS Replay [Webinars: Multiply Languages]
  17. Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences – Women’s Profiles
  18. Estrogen & Hormones: Estrogen and the Cardiovascular System
  19. Estrogen and Progestin (Hormone Replacement Therapy)
  20. Estrogen, Hormone Therapy and Menopause
  21. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  22. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  23. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  24. HRT
  25. HRT and Bleeding Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  26. HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  27. HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  28. HRT: Benefits and Risks
  29. HRT: The History
  30. HRT: Types, Doses and Regimens
  31. Hormone Replacement Therapy
  32. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  33. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  34. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Risks
  35. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Types
  36. Hormone Replacement Therapy Safe, Despite Rare Blood Clot Risks From Tablets
  37. Hormone Therapy
  38. Hormone Therapy In Postmenopausal Persons: Primary Prevention of Chronic Conditions
  39. Hormone Therapy for Menopause
  40. Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms
  41. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  42. Hormones and Dementia
  43. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do? [+ Video: What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause?]
  44. Hot Flashes? Night Sweats? Progesterone Can Help Reduce Symptoms of Menopause
  45. Jean Hailes MHT Position Statement
  46. Joint BMS, FSRH, RCGP and RCOG Position Statement on the Supply Shortages of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  47. 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
  48. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [+ Video: Is HRT Bad for You?]
  49. Looking At HRT In Perspective
  50. MHT Still Maligned & Misunderstood: Expert
  51. Making Sense of Menopausal Hormone Therapy Means Understanding the Benefits As Well As the Risks
  52. Managing Menopause
  53. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Estrogen Replacement Therapy After Ovary Removal
  54. Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  55. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk
  56. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism
  57. Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Women’s Health: An Umbrella Review
  58. 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
  59. Menopausal Hormone Therapy – Fact Sheet
  60. Menopausal Hormone Therapy, Heart Disease and Stroke
  61. Menopause
  62. Menopause & Hormones Common Questions
  63. Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms
  64. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Does It Cause Vaginal Bleeding?
  65. Menopause Management Options: Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
  66. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Hormone Therapy
  67. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  68. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 3. The Risks & Benefits of HRT
  69. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 4. The Different Types of HRT
  70. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Treating Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
  71. Menopause Treatment
  72. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment
  73. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  74. Menopause: HRT’s Brain-Protecting Effect May Be Overstated
  75. Menopause: Medicines To Help You
  76. Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
  77. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
  78. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms In Depth
  79. Oestrogen Only Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  80. Optimising the Menopause Transition: 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
  81. Risks and Benefits of MHT
  82. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
  83. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
  84. The Effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy on the Survival of UK Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study 1984−2017
  85. Treating Menopause — MHT and Beyond
  86. Types of Hormone Therapy
  87. Use of Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Risk of Dementia: Nested Case-Control Studies Using QResearch and CPRD Databases
  88. Venous Thrombosis/Thromboembolism Risk and Menopausal Treatments
  89. Video Series-2021: Treatment Options for Vaginal Dryness and Urinary Issues
  90. Video Series-2021: What Women Need To Know About Hormone Therapies
  91. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  92. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  93. Videos and Podcasts: Interviews and Podcasts – Interviews: Prevention of Chronic Diseases In Women: Where Does MHT Fit In?
  94. Videos and Podcasts: Interviews and Podcasts – Interviews: The Women’s Health Initiative – What Can We Believe?
  95. Videos and Podcasts: World Menopause Day 2022 – Interviews: How To Protect Your Brain Health At Menopause and Beyond
  96. Videos and Podcasts: World Menopause Day 2022 – Interviews: What Women Should Know About Menopause and Brain Fog
  97. Webinars: Previous – Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease With MHT: Where Are We Now?
  98. What Are the Benefits and Risks of HRT?
  99. What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
  100. World Menopause Day 2023World Menopause Day: Patient Information Leaflet – Brain Fog and Memory Difficulties in Menopause [Multiply Languages]

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

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