A study published in the journal Neurology has found that postmenopausal women who used estrogen-only hormone therapy later in life had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia compared with those who did not use hormone therapy. The finding adds fresh weight to research exploring estrogen’s potential protective effects on cognitive health.
The association held even after researchers adjusted for other factors known to influence dementia risk, including age, education level and lifestyle. The results align with earlier research suggesting estrogen may support brain health, though the study stops short of establishing a direct causal link.
Researchers propose several possible explanations for the effect, including estrogen’s role in supporting neuron growth, reducing inflammation and improving blood flow to the brain. With dementia posing a growing public health challenge as populations age, the findings point to a promising area for further study into hormone therapy’s role in prevention.
Source: medicalxpress.com
