Estrogens to protect mental function and prevent Alzheimer’s - More negative information
(August 2004)

Some studies have suggested that estrogens taken after the menopause have beneficial effects in improving mental function, preventing the deterioration in memory and thinking capacity that is often part of the aging process, and reducing the risk of dementias such as Alzheimer’s. Several well-conducted recent studies have found no such benefits and have challenged the results of earlier studies. A new study from the University of Wisconsin was published November 10, 2003 in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The investigators followed 1,462 post-menopausal women for ten years. During that time, 6 percent of the women developed either Alzheimer’s or mental impairment as diagnosed by standard mental function tests. There was no evidence that current use or past use of estrogens protected the women from developing moderate mental impairment or dementia.

Commentary: This study gives no support to those who still maintain that estrogens improve thinking powers or reduce the risk of developing mental impairment or frank dementia. Still, it is worth noting that, in this study, current use of estrogens did show a 40 percent reduction in risk of mental impairment; this apparent reduction was not statistically significant. So, this study is negative, but it is not definitive and it will not put an end to the debate.



One thing is for sure - nobody has any right to claim estrogens alone or estrogen plus progestins improve thinking, reduce the age-related risk of memory loss, impairment of mental function, or dementia. And, there is no persuasive evidence estrogen treatment of either mental impairment or dementia, once they have occurred, is at all beneficial. Still, this is an active area of research, and new data could change this conclusion.

Mitchell, J.L., et al. Postmenopausal hormone therapy and its association with cognitive impairment. Archives of Internal Medicine. Vol 113 (November 10) Pgs 2485-2490. 2003.