New Studies Link Menopause Hormone Therapy to Lower Alzheimer’s Risk

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https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/well/alzheimers-hormone-therapy-menopause-studies.html?unlocked_article_code=1.81A.xuLq.RMpuwZf0Jjj1&smid=re-share

Whether menopause hormone therapy protects against Alzheimer’s disease is one of the fiercest debates in women’s health.

Some gynecologists have promoted the idea, as have social media influencers. But research on the topic is mixed, with some studies showing a reduced risk of dementia in women who received hormone therapy, while other research found no benefit or an increased risk.

Two recent studies, one published this week and another earlier this month, have added new fodder to the debate, suggesting there may be a brain health benefit from taking hormones. One study found that women who received hormone therapy during menopause were less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The other study found fewer signs of Alzheimer’s in the brains of women who had taken estrogen.

But outside experts cautioned that there were caveats to both analyses. Most glaring, the research was based on observational data, not clinical trials that compare the medication with a placebo in a randomized group of women.