Can HRT help my mental ability?
You may find that you are less able to cope with psychological stress after the menopause. Oestrogen replacement therapy has been shown to return this response to pre-menopause levels. A trial of oestrogen and/or androgen (placebo & controlled trials) compared to a placebo (a look-a-like preparation but without the active drug) demonstrated improved mental ability with HRT in women who have had a surgical menopause (removal of the ovaries usually in association with hysterectomy). Tests of short-term and long-term memory and logical reasoning were better in those patients receiving oestrogen replacement when compared to those having the placebo. Headaches, anxiety and insomnia responded to oestrogen better than to a placebo and memory was also improved.
A study ten years ago reported a 50% reduction in the incidence of stroke related deaths although other studies have not confirmed this observation. There is some evidence that oestrogen deficiency is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. In a prospective study, 8879 women in the Leisure World Laguna Hills, a retirement community in California, have been assessed regularly since 1981. For each woman participating in the study, a detailed medical history was recorded and her use of HRT was documented. Alzheimer's disease (senile dementia) was included on the death certificate in 138 women. The relative risk (Q33.27) of developing Alzheimer's disease was 0.69 (30% reduction) for those who had taken HRT and the risk decreased with increasing dose and duration of HRT. Long-term HRT may improve cerebral (brain) function (mental ability) for women with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Low dose HRT does not seem to be as effective.
Related Medical Abstracts - Click on the paper title:-
- Effects of ultra-low-dose transdermal estradiol on cognition and health-related quality of life. (2006-01)
- Cognitive function variations in postmenopausal women treated with continuous, combined HRT or tibolone. A comparison. (2003-01)
- The effects of tibolone on mood and libido. (2002-01)
- Cognitive effects of 10 years of hormone-replacement therapy with tibolone. (2002-02)
- Exploration of cyclical changes in memory and mood in postmenopausal women taking sequential combined oestrogen and progestogen preparations (2001)
- The effect of tibolone versus continuous combined norethisterone acetate and oestradiol on memory, libido and mood of postmenopausal women: a pilot study. (2000-01)
- Long-term estrogen replacement therapy in female patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type: 7 case reports (1995)
- Behavioral stress responses in premenopausal and postmenopausal women and the effects of estrogen (1992)
Please click on the required question.
- 1 HRT help me with the psychological difficulties that I am experiencing around?
- 2 HRT help my mental ability?
- 3 Can HRT reduce my chance of developing heart disease?
- 4 How does HRT protect against coronary heart disease?
- 5 If I am at particular risk of heart disease, can HRT still help?
- 6 Do progestogens taken in combination with oestrogen replacement therapy have an adverse effect on heart protection?
- 7 How long should HRT be taken to reduce the risk of heart disease?
- 8 Is there any evidence that HRT will protect my bones?
- 9 Would the dose (strength) of my HRT influence its ability to protect my bones?
- 10 Are there other treatments apart from HRT for osteoporosis?
- 11 Would HRT help my skin?
- 12 Can hormone replacement therapy cure all my menopausal symptoms?
- 13 How prevalent is cancer of the breast?
- 14 What factors influence the chance of breast cancer developing?
- 15 What is the relationship between HRT and breast cancer?
- 16 I have benign breast disease. Can I take HRT?
- 17 Does a history of breast cancer mean that HRT is absolutely contraindicated?
- 18 If I started HRT early (aged 30 to 45), does this influence my chance of developing breast cancer?
- 19 Does hormone replacement therapy increase the risks of cancer of the womb?
- 20 I have had endometrial cancer and now have menopausal problems. Can I take HRT?
- 21 Does HRT have a relationship to ovarian cancer?
- 22 How does HRT relate to a blood clot (DVT - deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism)?
- 23 I have varicose veins. Can I take HRT?
- 24 Should HRT be discontinued before I have a major operation or leg surgery?
- 25 Does HRT increase life-expectancy?
- 26 I am still seeing periods. Could HRT have any benefits for me?
- 27 I have been told that I have fibroids. Can I take HRT?
- 28 What happens if I decide not to take HRT?
- 29 Doctors seem to promote HRT but the media cause me anxiety. Who is right?
- 30 Support Groups.
Thank you for choosing to visit us.
This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.
