What is Alzheimer's disease : the interplay of menopause, hormone therapy and risk of disease

One of the top 10 main causes of death in the US is Alzheimer's disease. It affects two-thirds of women and is most common in them. Researchers believe hormone replacement therapy could delay the onset of Alzheimer's in postmenopausal women because of risk variables like hormone levels and reproductive stage.

The onset of Alzheimer's disease may be influenced by a variety of variables. This may include things like a woman's age, stage of menstruation, hormone levels, and other risk factors.

As new research is introduced, new connections emerge. (Image via Freepik/ Freepik)

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The dance between Hormone Replacement Therapy and Alzheimer's disease

The interplay between hormones, menopause and brain disease is now being tested. (Image via Freepik/ Freepik)

There are a variety of possible scientific and social explanations for why women are more likely than males to develop dementia like Alzheimer's. It has long been believed that this disparity results from women generally living longer than males, and that older age is the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer's.

Currently, scientists are debating whether women may genuinely have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's at any given age due to biological, genetic, or experiential factors.

A recent study found that women who started hormone therapy at the beginning of menopause did not exhibit an elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease. However, early menopause may be a risk factor for dementia caused by this disease. What is hormone replacement therapy, and what effects does it have?

Premature menopause, which is defined as menopause that happens naturally before the age of 40 or due to surgical intervention before the age of 45, has been associated in the past with an increased risk of Alzheimer's dementia. In addition to being used to treat severe menopause symptoms, hormone therapy has also been linked in the past to the possibility of preventing cognitive decline.

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Side effects of HRT

What are the side effects of using these therapies? can we protect our women? (Image via Freepik/ Freepik)

Hormones are bodily substances that travel through your bloodstream. They regulate how certain cells or organs behave. Variations in a hormone's level in the body might have a negative impact by interfering with a certain bodily function. Hormone therapy can have a wide range of adverse effects since different hormones have an impact on various bodily processes.

1) Gastrointestinal issues

Your digestive tract may experience a few issues as a result of hormone therapy. You might feel ill. It normally subsides within a few days or weeks and is modest. Anti-sickness medication can be prescribed by your doctor, which should be helpful.

You may experience diarrhea or constipation. This is typically minor and is manageable with medication or diet. As with any diarrhea, though, if it is severe, you may need to get in touch with your doctor.

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2) Heart disease

Women over 60 who utilize hormone replacement therapy (HRT) longer than ten years after menopause are at higher risk. Yet, the risk is negligible at first. Compared to 1.5 in 100 women who did not use HRT, nearly 2 in 100 women who took HRT during a five-year period were at risk of heart disease.

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3) Additional risks

There is evidence that suggests taking HRT for a year or longer may raise a woman's risk of gallbladder disease (gallstones). There is still debate over the relationship between HRT and the risk of ovarian cancer. Some studies have suggested that HRT may modestly raise the risk, which goes away when HRT use is discontinued.

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The structure, connection, energy consumption, and protein synthesis of the human brain are all impacted by menopause. Our bodies also start producing hormones at a slower rate. Prevention is key and there are many ways you can protect yourself from Alzheimer's.

HRT aids in the alleviation of menopausal symptoms by replacing hormones that are impacted during the transition towards menopause. According to some research, it is associated with greater brain sizes and better memory and cognition in women. It is important to note that these studies on Alzheimer's disease are carried out on a limited sample and may or may not be applicable to you.

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Janvi Kapur is a counselor with a Master's degree in applied psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.

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