Study claims HRT may reduce risk of Alzheimer’s in some women

Researchers say new data suggests that hormone replacement therapy could reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease among some higher-risk women.

Around a quarter of women in the UK are thought to carry a gene called APOE4, which is known to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

The new research found HRT, which can help control menopause symptoms, was associated with better memory and larger brain volumes for those with the gene.

The researchers said it was too early to say for sure whether HRT reduced dementia risk in women, but the results highlighted its potential importance.

Alzheimer’s Research UK said the findings were encouraging, but that more and larger studies were needed to help understand the link between HRT and changes to the brain.

Dr Sara Imarisio, head of strategic initiatives at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said the study provided evidence that HRT could have some cognitive benefits, but the findings needed to be confirmed with trials that directly tested it.

“The next step is to investigate this in more detail.  Importantly, this study didn’t measure whether women went on to develop dementia.

“So, its findings need to be confirmed, first in trials that directly test whether giving HRT affects women’s cognitive abilities and changes in their brain, particularly carriers of the APOE4 gene.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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