Hormone therapy: A possible solution to reduce Alzheimer's risk in women with early menopause

Did you know that early menopause can increase a woman's risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease?

Don't worry, there's some good news too. A recent study suggests that hormone therapy could help offset this risk.

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What is hormone therapy and its controversial past?

Hormone therapy is a type of treatment that can help women who experience symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes and vaginal dryness. However, it has had some controversy in the past.

Studies done in the early 2000s showed that hormone therapy could increase risk of developing breast cancer, heart disease, stroke and dementia.

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The study: Early menopause and Alzheimer's risk

Hormone therapy may help with early menopause. (Image via Pexels/Mike Murray)

A study published in JAMA Neurology looked at brain scans from 193 women and 99 men without Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. Researchers analyzed the scans for beta-amyloid plaques and tau proteins, two markers of Alzheimer’s disease.

The study found that women who entered menopause before age 40, from age 40 to 45, or who started hormone therapy more than five years after menopause had higher levels of tau in their brain.

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How hormone therapy can help offset Alzheimer's risk

Here's the good news - the study also revealed that women who began hormone therapy around the time of menopause did not show an increased risk of developing tau proteins in the brain.

This suggests that hormone therapy may help reduce risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

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Women's brain health: Tau and amyloid build-up

Lowered estrogen levels affect cognitive function. (Image via Kindel Media)

Did you know that women's brains may be more susceptible to Alzheimer's disease?

That's because the accumulation of tau and amyloid plaques in the brain is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Estrogen levels play a crucial role in the brain's health, and a decrease in estrogen levels can lead to the development of Alzheimer's.

It's not just about memory loss either; women may experience other symptoms like mood swings, hot flashes and vaginal dryness as estrogen levels decrease.

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Menopause and Alzheimer's disease: What we know so far

While research is ongoing, data has linked early menopause to an increased risk of developing dementia later in life. There are also other risk factors involved in the development of Alzheimer's, like genetics, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and obesity.

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To sum it up, the study highlights that hormone therapy could offset the risk of Alzheimer's disease in women who go through early menopause. However, it's always important to have an open discussion with your healthcare provider about the possible risks and benefits of hormone therapy.

Also, there's still a need for more research to determine if hormone therapy can indeed help prevent Alzheimer's disease.