Estrogen-Only Hormone Therapy Linked to Lower Alzheimer’s Risk in Women

Women who began estrogen‑only hormone therapy later in life had a markedly lower risk of dementia and fewer Alzheimer’s‑related changes in their brains, a study of more than 21,000 participants found. The analysis showed a 39 % reduction in the odds of a clinical dementia diagnosis and a 35 % reduction in the odds of Alzheimer’s‑associated brain pathology at autopsy, including amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Biomarker tests further indicated less amyloid accumulation among hormone‑therapy users. These findings suggest that the type and timing of hormone therapy may influence Alzheimer’s risk and could inform future preventive strategies.