Hormone replacement therapy, often taken by women who are experiencing the downsides of post-menopausal hormone change, has another effect: It seem to protect against dementia.
The important kicker, though, is that to get the most of that benefit it needs to be started early, according to a new study out of Weill Cornell Medicine. And by “early” they mean as soon as menopausal symptoms start, i.e., in perimenopause.
If that happens — if she starts taking them early and keeps going for 10 or more years — “there was a 26% reduced risk of dementia.”
Quoth the lead researcher:
“[I]n the right woman, at the right dose, and for the right duration of time, I believe that hormone replacement therapy can be one of our most powerful tools to reduce a woman’s risk for cognitive decline.”
And who's the expert in personalized hormone therapies? Your compounding pharmacist, of course. They can work with you and your physician to choose the right dose and most convenient delivery form to help you get the most benefit. And as the Weill Cornell study shows, you don't want to wait.
Side note: What’s the difference between hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy? Find a nice explanation right here.
