Dementia lessened by Hormones, according to this article by DiscoveryHealth.com.
From the article:
“New research suggests that hormone therapy taken soon after menopause may help protect against the mental decline of dementia, even though it raises that risk in elderly women.
The study adds yet another frustrating twist to the back-and-forth findings about whether hormone-replacement therapy protects against diseases of aging. Though the accepted answer has been “no” in recent years, the latest evidence suggests that timing of treatments may be key, at least for heart attacks and now for dementia.
“Previous research showed that women who take hormones after age 65 experience a 75 percent increased risk of dementia over other women.
But this study found the opposite for women who took hormones before age 65: Dementia risk was reduced by nearly half.
Dementia developed in 22 of 2,228 women — or only 1 percent — who took hormones at the earlier time, but in 84 of 4,925 who did not — or 1.7 percent. The apparent protective effect was especially strong for Alzheimer’s disease, a common form of dementia.”
This is another great boon for Elderly Studies. With all the preventative steps and medical breakthroughs, these diseases that are associated with aging may become a thing of the past. When my mother was in several nursing homes throughout the last decade of her life, they were turned into Alzheimers Homes. Seeing the once-vital persons now unable to remember their own name, reverting backwards towards child-like behaviour, was and is, heartbreaking.
It’s great seeing scientists working towards these goals.
elderly, alzheimers, dementia, hormone therapy
elderly, alzheimers, dementia, hormone therapy
Leave a Reply