Alzheimer's Society comment on research into Hormone Replacement Therapy, memory loss and Alzheimer's disease

Published 25 March 2008

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) cannot be viewed as a treatment option for reducing risk or delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Scientists halted a large clinical trial comparing HRT to a dummy treatment, when results suggested some women taking HRT had an increased risk for breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. There was no evidence of reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease.
HRT has previously been linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease in postmenopausal women in less rigorous studies. This could be because women taking HRT are also doing other things to preserve their health and reduce their risk.
Alzheimer's Society does not recommend taking HRT as a way of reducing the risk of dementia. Using HRT as a treatment or preventative measure against Alzheimer's disease would mean giving drugs, which can produce side-effects, to women without symptoms.