Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have found that early menopause and delayed initiation of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can increase a woman’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The research was published in the journal JAMA Neurology.
The study’s authors noted that the most reliable way to relieve the severe symptoms of menopause is with hormone replacement therapy. But an earlier study showed that taking HRT could almost double the risk of dementia, casting doubt on the treatment’s safety.
In the new study, researchers analyzed PET brain scans of 292 people without cognitive impairment to determine levels of amyloid and tau, which are linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Higher levels of tau and amyloid have been observed in women who have had an early menopause due to sterilization before the age of 40 or before the age of 45.
The scientists found that the highest levels of the protein tau, which is involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, are observed in women who start taking the hormone five or more years after menopause.
The results mean that HRT can have a negative impact on cognitive function, but this is only possible if started several years after menopause. The results of the observations confirm the recommendations that HRT should be started shortly before the onset of menopause, rather than several years later.