NHS Choices examine reports of HRT delaying onset of dementia

Source: NHS Choices Area: News A number of newspapers have reported that taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) could delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease for millions of women.   NHS Choices has assessed the study, published in PLOS ONE that involved 63 postmenopausal women who had been taking HRT. The research looked at the relationship between the genetic variant APOE-e4 (known to increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease), HRT and telomere length, which is an indicator of cell ageing. The study found that: . post-menopausal women who carried APOE-e4 had about six times higher odds of telomere shortening . women who carried APOE-e4 showed less reduction in telomere length if they stayed on HRT . women who did not carry APOE-e4 showed less reduction in telomere length if they stopped taking HRT.   NHS Choices pointed out that the study was a small study and that the study did not look at the potential effect of HRT on the risk of developing Alzheimer's, ...
Source: NeLM - News - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news