Late-Start Hormone Therapy Linked to Increased Alzheimer’s risk,Study Finds
Baltimore,MD – New research presented at the American Neurology (ANA) annual conference suggests the timing of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menopause significantly impacts Alzheimer’s disease risk. While initiating HRT within five years of menopause may offer a protective effect,starting treatment after age 65 was associated with a 38% increase in Alzheimer’s risk,according to a meta-analysis of over 50 published studies.
Researchers led by Paldit Bagwatt, Dahwat, from the Graduate School of Medical Science, India, found that women who began HRT close to the onset of menopause experienced a 22-32% reduction in Alzheimer’s risk. However, the benefit diminished with delayed initiation. Specifically, HRT containing progestin showed a particularly elevated risk when started later in life.
“If you start the hormonal replacement early, you may have a brain protection effect, but you can’t slow down the disease after Alzheimer’s or memory has already fallen,” explained Bagwatt.
The study highlights the critical window for potential benefit, coinciding with the period instantly following menopause – typically between ages 45 and 55 – when estrogen levels naturally decline, causing symptoms like hot flashes, sweating, and sleep disturbances. HRT is commonly used to alleviate these symptoms and has previously been linked to positive effects on heart health and bone density.
Researchers theorize that early HRT may improve brain cell function and reduce inflammation, offering a protective mechanism. Conversely, they suggest that initiating treatment after the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms may exacerbate inflammation and increase cerebrovascular burden, worsening the disease.
Despite the findings, researchers caution against recommending HRT solely for Alzheimer’s prevention. “There is not enough evidence to recommend hormone alternative therapy for Alzheimer’s prevention,” they stated. “After many years of treatment, we need to discuss with the doctor, and it may be more than a profit to start treatment to protecting brain health in the 60s and 70s.”
