Menopausal Hormone Therapy Linked to Dementia Risk, Even in Women 55 and Younger
An extensive observational research conducted in Denmark found a relationship between menopausal hormone therapy and dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, even in women who started treatment at age 55 or younger. Nelsan Pourhadi, MD, of Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, and co-authors found that women aged 50 to 60 who had undergone estrogen-progestin therapy had a higher risk of all-cause dementia (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.17-1.33) compared to those who had never undergone the procedure. The researchers reported their findings in The BMJopens in a new tab or window. Hazard ratios increased with longer usage periods, rising from 1.21 (95% CI 1.09-1.35) for use of less than a year to 1.74 (95% CI 1.45-2.10) for use of more than 12 years. When limited to late-onset dementia (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.12-1.30) or Alzheimer’s disease (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07-1.39), or in women who received therapy at age 55 or younger, associations persisted (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.11-1.40). It’s unclear what the find...