Extended exposure to long-term hormone therapy and to estrogen in particular is beneficial in combating cognitive decline in women – a new study shows.
Estrogen plays a role in brain health and maintaining cognitive function; for this reason, many studies focused on preventing cognitive decline took into consideration the effect of reduced levels of this hormone during the menopause. This new study suggests a real cognitive benefit from hormone therapy, and the results were published in the journal of NAMS (the North American Menopause Society).
Because women account for two-thirds of the 5.5 million cases of Alzheimer’s in the US, the researchers found that sex-specific factors could contribute to women’s high risk of developing this disease.
The study we are talking about involved more than 2,000 postmenopausal women, the researchers followed participants for 12 years to examine the association between cognitive decline and estrogen. Specifically, they focused on a woman’s exposure to this hormone, taking into account factors such as the first menstruation, the number of pregnancies, the duration of breastfeeding etc.
Researchers concluded that women exposed to estrogen for a longer time have better cognitive status. Especially for older women, these effects are extended with the use of integrative medicine Denver offers.