HRT's Sweet Spot: Reducing Dementia Risk by Nearly a Third, Study Finds

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) taken during the 40s and 50s, when menopausal symptoms begin, may reduce the risk of dementia by nearly a third, according to a recent meta-analysis. The study found that the type of hormone and the timing of HRT play a role in its effectiveness. Estrogen-only therapy in midlife was associated with a 32% lower risk of dementia, while estrogen and progesterone therapy provided a 23% risk reduction. However, starting HRT after the age of 65 or more than 10 years after menopause increased the risk of dementia. The use of bioidentical progesterone and transdermal patches for hormone delivery may be safer options. Scientists are also developing a new generation of hormone replacement called selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that specifically targets the brain.