hormone Therapy Route Impacts Cognitive Performance After Menopause, Study Finds
Vancouver, BC – The method of estrogen governance in hormone therapy following menopause appears to significantly influence cognitive performance, with transdermal estrogen linked to improved episodic memory and oral estrogen associated with better prospective memory, according to research published August 27 in Neurology. the findings suggest a more personalized approach to postmenopausal hormone therapy could be key to preserving brain health.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia, analyzed data from 7,251 postmenopausal women participating in the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Aging. It revealed that earlier age at menopause was associated with lower scores across all cognitive domains tested – episodic memory, prospective memory, and executive functions. However, the type of estrogen therapy used showed differing effects, highlighting the complexity of managing cognitive health during and after menopause.
Researchers found that women using transdermal estrogen (patches or gels) demonstrated higher episodic memory scores compared to those who had never taken hormone therapy. Conversely, those using oral estrogen showed improved prospective memory scores. Notably, neither administration route impacted executive functions. The effect of early menopause on executive function was more pronounced in women with four or more children and in those carrying the APOE4 ε4 gene variant.
“This study highlights that the type of estradiol therapy used may influence cognitive performance differently across various types of memory,” explained co-author Liisa A.M. Galea, Ph.D., of the University of British Columbia. ”Understanding thes links could help inform more tailored approaches to maintaining brain health after menopause.”
The study reinforces the growing understanding of the link between hormonal changes during menopause and cognitive function. With the number of women experiencing menopause continuing to rise globally, these findings underscore the need for further research to optimize hormone therapy regimens for cognitive preservation and overall well-being.
