Ep. 328:Could HRT Protect Your Brain? The New Dementia Research Every Woman Needs to Hear

For years, we’ve have been given confusing—and sometimes frightening—messages about hormone replacement therapy and dementia. Could HRT actually increase your risk of cognitive decline? Or could it potentially protect your brain?

Now, a major new UK Biobank study involving more than 183,000 postmenopausal women is adding an important new chapter to the conversation. Researchers found that HRT use was associated with about a 10% lower risk of dementia overall and a 16% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

In this episode, we take a closer look at what this groundbreaking research actually found—and why the answer may be much more personal than simply “HRT is good” or “HRT is bad.” We’ll explore the potential importance of when you start HRT, including the study’s finding that women who began hormone therapy between ages 46 and 56 showed the greatest reduction in dementia risk.

We’ll also look at why women who experienced surgical menopause, had lower lifetime estrogen exposure, or carried the APOE4 genetic variant appeared to have stronger associations with lower dementia risk.

But there’s an important reality check: this study does not prove that HRT prevents dementia, and it doesn't mean HRT is right for every woman. We’ll unpack why previous research—including the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study—produced very different concerns, what this latest research does and doesn't tell us, and how factors such as your age, menopause history, family history, genetics, thyroid health, sleep, cardiovascular health, and blood sugar all fit into the bigger picture.

Most importantly, we'll discuss how to use this new research to have a more informed, individualized conversation with your healthcare provider about menopause treatment and long-term brain health.

🎤Tune in to discover more about the connection between hormone replacement therapy, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

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Menopause Treatment and the Risk of Dementia

https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/menopause-treatment-and-risk-of-dementia

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