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Can Hormone Therapy Protect Your Brain from Alzheimer’s?

  • Writer: Dr. Jackson
    Dr. Jackson
  • 11 minutes ago
  • 2 min read

Two out of every three Alzheimer’s patients are women — and the connection to estrogen loss is becoming harder to ignore. Recent research, including a 2023 meta-analysis of over 6 million women, sheds light on how hormone therapy might help reduce dementia risk — but the when and what matters most.


Alzheimer's Brain

The Critical Window: Timing Is Everything

  • Hormone therapy started during midlife (typically within 10 years of menopause) is associated with:

    • 32% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease

    • Up to 20% lower risk of all-cause dementia

  • This benefit was seen most consistently with estrogen-only therapy (ET).

  • Late-life hormone therapy (after age 65) showed little to no benefit — and in some cases, a slight increase in risk.



Why Midlife Matters

  • Menopause is a time of brain change, not just hormone change.

  • Estrogen helps support brain energy, blood flow, and structure — especially in areas tied to memory and cognition.

  • Starting therapy early helps preserve those systems before irreversible decline begins.



What About Progestins?

  • The risks seen in older studies were linked to synthetic progestins, not estrogen alone.

  • Modern hormone protocols use micronized bioidentical progesterone, which does not appear to increase dementia risk.

  • Customizing your HRT plan based on your uterus status, health profile, and goals is key.


Bottom Line

If you’re in your 40s or 50s and want to protect your brain health as you age, hormone therapy may be one of the most powerful tools we have. But you need to start at the right time — and use the right type.


Listen to Dr Jackson go into detail about this topic!  You can hear the full episode on her podcast, Ageless and Outrageous.  Be sure to like and follow so you don’t miss an episode!


Ageless and Outrageous

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FOUNDATIONS AT MAITLAND


At Foundations at Maitland, in Maitland FL, we offer a full range of non-surgical treatments to help you reach your aesthetic, wellness, and sexual goals.  Our providers are highly trained and experienced.  We are led by our double-board certified surgeon, Dr Kristin Jackson, who has personally developed all treatment protocols and is closely involved in the day-to-day operations of our medical spa.  With her extensive training in all non-surgical cosmetic treatments as well as over 20 years of surgical experience, Dr Jackson is uniquely qualified to ensure our medical spa provides you with the highest standards of quality care and safety.


If you are looking for hormone replacement doctors or anti-aging doctors near you, we can help!  Contact us today for your complimentary consultation!


 
 
 

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