Menopause Hormone Therapy Linked to Reduced Dementia Risk in Large Study

A 13-year observational study of 183,450 postmenopausal women in the UK Biobank found that hormone therapy users had about 10% lower risk of any dementia and 16% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, with the largest reduction (26%) seen after surgical menopause. The results show association, not causation, and healthy-user bias may contribute. A possible “critical window” exists: starting within five years after menopause may lower risk, while starting after 65 could raise it. More research is needed, and this is not a recommendation to use hormone therapy solely to prevent dementia.